An Introduction to Prescribed Burning Prescribed burning is one of the most commonly used, cost-effective methods for fuels management. A burn plan, containing a strict range of conditions that must be met, is prepared. These “prescriptions” include temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, fuel moisture, and more. Following the prescriptions helps assure that the burn can be conducted safely and effectively. When the appropriate circumstances are present, fire personnel ignite the treatment area using devices such as drip torches, or, in large areas, helicopters. Fire personnel ensure that the fire stays within the designated burn boundaries. Prescribed burning provides many benefits to the environment. One of the most important is a return to historic fire occurrence cycles. Before intensive historic settlement, fire had a frequent and integral part in shaping the landscape. It helped to rejuvenate the forest by thinning seedlings, which kept tree density at optimal levels. This opened up the forest floor, allowing natural grasses and wildflowers to flourish. The frequency of fires also kept fuel accumulations low, and resulted in low intensity fires. These fires were not severe enough to damage and kill larger trees, thereby maintaining a healthy forest community.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 17:45:51 +0000
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