BOARDMAN TWP., Ohio - If you saw flames and smoke driving down Tippecanoe and Western Reserve Road in Boardman Township Thursday afternoon, there's a reason for that.

Mill Creek Metroparks conducted a controlled burn, also known as a prescribed burn, on dozens of acres of the park's Collier Preserve, which is part of their restoration management plan.

Flames spread across the 45-acre prairie grassland, and it's the first time Mill Creek Park has done a controlled burn.

Crews spent hours prepping accelerants and lighting up the area section by section, but it's a process to get to this point. Mill Creek Park spent five years planting seeds for grass growth, making sure the prairie is ready to take the burn.

"We've been treating invasives and non-native plants and we're to the point where the prescribed burn will help further those efforts," Justin Rogers, Planning and Operations Director of Mill Creeks Metroparks said.

So what's the benefit behind it?

Rogers said this will get rid of the non-native vegetation and allows for the types of native grass that naturally occur in our region to thrive, which will bring more wildlife to the area.

 "The Indian grass, the big and little bluestems...those are ones that create the habitat you want for fawn in the area that use grasslands and prairies to nest," he said.

He said the burn will also allow them to plant new flowers and trees, making for a healthier environment and a much more beautiful experience for those exploring the trail there.

"You'll see more of a uniform grass area and we are considering incorporating additional native wildflowers as future steps," he said. 

The burn is expected to be finished by the end of the day Thursday.