Growing season burns prescribed for Flint Hills

LENEXA, KAN. - Jim Macy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is recommending Flint Hills controlled burns in the summer and fall to reduce impacts on air quality.

An EPA press release says the burning of 2.1 million acres in the Flint Hills in Kansas is necessary for prairie health and to sustain the Kansas cattle industry.

Macy said controlled burns during the growing season will not add smoke to the spring grass fire season of April and May, which is always a part of prairie life.

He said the EPA is working with upwind communities at the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment to ensure cleaner air across state lines.

Here is the EPA press release

Fire, Air Quality, and a Strong Economy in the Flint Hills 

Commentary from the Desk of Regional Administrator Jim Macy
 

LENEXA, KAN. (FEB. 23, 2026) – Each spring, an average of 2.1 million acres are set ablaze across the Flint Hills in Kansas. These controlled burns — known as prescribed fire — are a vital part of safely maintaining the prairie landscape. The fires help protect this endangered ecosystem by restoring the health of the lands and reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires. But just like any fire, prescribed burns also produce smoke. At the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we work closely with our partners at the state and local levels to make sure that these fires take place in conditions that minimize impacts on local air quality. Together, we’re making sure that all Kansans have clean air, clean water, and clean and healthy lands. 

Through research, cooperation, and strategic prescribed-burn practices, we can promote healthier air, a thriving prairie ecosystem, and a strong cattle ranching economy across the state. We can have all three. As part of our mission, EPA works to secure clean air for all Americans.

Prescribed burns are a must for the Great Plains grassland region. Ranchers and landowners conduct burns to improve ecosystem health and provide the nutrition necessary to sustain the Kansas cattle ranching industry by reducing invasive vegetation and promoting the growth of four dominant Flint Hills tallgrasses.

This process provides the Flint Hills with a vital source of sustainable and productive forage for over 1 million head of cattle on an annual basis, while providing better control of woody vegetation — including eastern red cedar — and other invasive species.

For the past decade, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and EPA Region 7 have encouraged landowners to conduct prescribed burns from late summer to early fall, also known as growing season burns. As opposed to spring burns, growing season burns have less impact on air quality because they occur outside of the traditional spring burn season.

The health effects of particulate matter in smoke can range from relatively minor (for example, eye and respiratory tract irritation) to more serious, such as exacerbation of asthma.

Working with our partners has led to noticeable progress. Our partnership with our state partners at KDHE and the Kansas Department of Agriculture remains key to our efforts in promoting healthier air, a resilient ecosystem, and vibrant local economies. EPA Region 7 is proud to engage through the Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition Advisory Board, smoke emission research, youth education programs, producer conferences, and partnerships like the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service Grassland Initiatives.

By conducting prescribed burning during the growing season, the accumulation of smoke can be reduced over large portions of the region at one time. For more information on prescribed burns, contact Gina Grier at [email protected].

Fire will always be a vital part of the prairie landscape. Our shared goal is to use it in ways that sustain both the prairie and the people who call this region home. Air forecasting will take place during the traditional burning season of April-May 2026. By working together with KDHE and our partners in upwind communities at the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, we aim to ensure cleaner air across state lines.

Jim Macy is the administrator for EPA Region 7, which consists of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and nine tribal nations. He previously served in leadership roles at Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy.