Burns: A tool for all seasons

[356]

Special thanks to Admin Bill for agreeing to add this forum!

Over the past years, I’ve read many posts promoting burns for invasive control, site prep and supporting the early successional vegetation so important to the wildlife we love and appreciate. The goal of this forum is to have a place to discuss burns and share the abundant knowledge members possess related to burns.

 

[Thomasc19]

Being from PA where we have a lot of restrictions on who can burn, does anyone know a burn boss that does contract work in the state? Always wanted to do it on my land but don't have the time to become a burn boss

 

[356]

Being from PA where we have a lot of restrictions on who can burn, does anyone know a burn boss that does contract work in the state? Always wanted to do it on my land but don't have the time to become a burn boss

Here is the link to the PA Prescribed Fire Council. They'll have the contacts and resources you need.

 

[GMan5465]

I’m connected with a local prescribed burn association. We burned 4 different areas on my property totaling roughly 20 acres, in a single afternoon. These were old pasture areas where there was a lot of grass duff. It’s a quick way to change habitat in a lot of area. It’s been interesting to see the areas respond with more Forbs and herbaceous growth. I’ll probably need to do a round of clethodim to kill remaining grass.

While you have to respect fire, you can control it with the right equipment. I had one area that was thick dead grass, next to a swamp of long dead grass. We put down a wet line via an atv sprayer and burned out from there. Then we had people with backpack sprayers following and watching for anything crossing the wet line. Didn’t have an issue.

Here’s a video of the first burn: TR Burn 1

The second video shows where we used the wet line approach.

Burn associations typically will help navigate the process to write a burn plan, get permits, and arrange experienced resources to help with the burn. The also may have access to equipment. Our association has a burn trailer with all the equipment to do a burn safely. Reach out if you are in central Minnesota and interested in a burn.

 

[356]

I’m connected with a local prescribed burn association. We burned 4 different areas on my property totaling roughly 20 acres, in a single afternoon. These were old pasture areas where there was a lot of grass duff. It’s a quick way to change habitat in a lot of area. It’s been interesting to see the areas respond with more Forbs and herbaceous growth. I’ll probably need to do a round of clethodim to kill remaining grass.

While you have to respect fire, you can control it with the right equipment. I had one area that was thick dead grass, next to a swamp of long dead grass. We put down a wet line via an atv sprayer and burned out from there. Then we had people with backpack sprayers following and watching for anything crossing the wet line. Didn’t have an issue.

Here’s a video of the first burn: TR Burn 1

The second video shows where we used the wet line approach.

Burn associations typically will help navigate the process to write a burn plan, get permits, and arrange experienced resources to help with the burn. The also may have access to equipment. Our association has a burn trailer with all the equipment to do a burn safely. Reach out if you are in central Minnesota and interested in a burn.

Thanks for sharing. So far all of my burns have been through a prescribed plan from the MDC (MO Dept of Conservation), but using family and friends only. I participated in a MBC burn workshop in 2014--and will need to update my training this year. I am a member of two burn associations, but don't let the lack of access to their help (timing a burn with the association can be tricky) keep me from doing a burn. I hope others will have a positive experience like you did....I have found burns to a one of several tools in the habitat toolbox.