Unit 6: Prescribed Burning Lesson 1, 2, 3 International Paper Lesson VII

Prescribed Burning is the best method for: Hazard Reduction- reduction and control of forest litter and undergrowth Hardwood control- kills undesirable species under 2” in diameter Site Preparation- Most economical method for providing bare soil and full sunlight Improving Wildlife Habitat- Reduces predator cover,exposes hidden food sources, increases low browse growth Disease Control- The only practical control method of Brown Spot Needle Blight, possibly reduces Formes Annosus Root Rot Improved Accessibility- Improved by reducing ground cover

When planning a prescribed burn, several factors must be considered: Fuel conditions Weather Season of the year Time of day Type of fire

Fuel Conditions The amount of fuel, its arrangement, and combustibility (wind conditions, temperature, relative humidity)

Weather Conditions- Available from the GFC, updated daily Temperature- 20°F to 60°F for winter burning, 80°F and above in summer Wind- Steady 2 to 10 mph, northerly direction Relative Humidity- amount of moisture in the air, 30% to 50% Rainfall- ½ to 1 inch, one week prior to the burn

Other Conditions: Season of the Year- Winter provides more predictable weather with less stand damage Time of Day- Started by 10:00am and out by night

Types of Fire For Prescribed Burning Backfire- Started at a clear fire break or road, heading directly into the wind Strip Head Fire- Uses narrow, parallel streaks of fire across a large area, set closely to reduce heat intensity Flank Fire- Used as a supplement to other techniques, set into the wind at a right angle to catch up slowly burning patches

Use of Maps To Plan the Fire Used to select areas that need to be burned Help to locate fire breaks in the burning area Used to locate smoke sensitive areas near the possible burn site

Smoke Sensitive Areas Include: Airports Highways Communities Resort or recreational areas Schools Hospitals Factories Stock barns or holding pens

Don’t burn if: Burn restrictions are in place Undesirable weather conditions are present Any smoke sensitive area is within ¾ mile downwind The area has air pollution or visibility problems There is a heavy fuel load You plan to use head fire on two year old fuel Transport wind speed is less than nine mph

For a successful burn: Get a reliable weather report, not a forecast, and observe the conditions first hand Notify adjoining landowners and the GFC to obtain a burn permit First do a small test fire Start backfire close to the boundary, don’t start more fire than you can watch Be aware of the changing wind conditions Watch for stumps near the firebreak Mop up any smoldering areas

Evaluating the Burn Check for crown scorch Check the amount of litter consumed Check hardwoods for bark cracks Check for scorching of the bark In spring, check for bark beetles