Researchers plan to set fire to a small section of the Perth's inner-city Kings Park in an effort to better understand bushfire in the local landscape.

Mark Webb, chief executive of the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority told 720 ABC Perth the fire would be lit at around midday on Thursday, and would burn for around four hours.

The fire will be lit in bushland in the south-west corner of the park, away from the main visitor areas.

"It is about understanding how we manage our bushfire risk, how fires keep weeds under control and how to improve our management of biodiversity," Mr Webb said.

Although there have been a number of unplanned fires lit by arsonists in the park in recent years, this is the first controlled burn since 1984.

The study, which will burn around 15 acres of the 1,000 acre park, will allow researchers to scrutinise the environment of the Swan coastal plain, which stretches from north of Perth to Margaret River in the south-west of the state.

"While the landscape has some commonality with the karri and jarrah forests where there has been some good work done, there are enough differences on the Swan coastal plain ecosystems that we actually need to better understand how to manage fire in these ecosystems," he said.

Visitor areas remain open

Some roads in Kings Park, including Lovekin Drive, Poole Avenue and a portion of May Drive will be closed for the day, but all of the visitor areas of the park will remain open.

Some footpaths will be closed for several days following the burn.

Mr Webb said the public would be likely to see smoke once the burn gets underway, and local residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed if the smoke comes their way.