DONE!! The 2001 class project was successfully conducted on Wednesday, 25 April, 4:30-6:30 PM, Wind SSE at 5-9 mph, dew point 37F, temp 75F.  The burn was patchy in the draw where western wheatgrass had gotten a good head start because of exceptionally warm weather over the past couple of weeks,. 
Pictures in a week or so right here. 
Participants:
Class of 1998: Jason Luginbill
Class of 1999: Sara Kay Carrell
Class of 2000: Steve Kolarick, Dave Spalsbury
Class of 2001: Matt Deyle, Darin Gronewoller, Eric Schultz

The 2001 class will meet for a Final time for about an hour on Thursday, 10 May at 7:00 PM at the parking lot at the top of the hill on Golf Course Road, next to the burned area. Please be there.

4/25/01 - Wednesday.  Forecast looks good for both today and tomorrow with a southeast wind, hopefully within our limits. BTW - I forgot to tell you to bring some drinking water plus don't forget the items on  your check list ( #3 below ). Hoping to see everyone at 4:30 today. -- RAN

PS - Last night would have made an interesting burn. The wind shifted from S to NW at about 6 PM.

1. 2001 Class Burning Project is scheduled for 11 April. If the weather is unsuitable, we will try it on the 12, then 13, 16, 18, 19, 20, 23, 25, 26, etc. I will try to keep you updated here on this web site as we get closer to the date, and have better info on the weather.
2. Plan to meet on the west side of the greenhouse at 4:30 PM.
3. The following are required: boots, gloves, long pants, long-sleeved shirt or jacket, hat, gloves, bandana or dust mask, matches or lighter, and drinking water.
4. If you have any questions, call me at 628-4214 or email rnicholson@fhsu.edu.

Successful Prescribed Burning Requires Knowledge Technique Equipment  Patience Common Sense

• The class will meet weekly for 60-90 min to cover the lecture content of the course in the classroom.
• Near the end of the course, each student will be required to orally present to the class a prescribed burning plan for a real tract of land.
• The class will also meet in the field to participate in conducting one or more prescribed burns. For this segment of the course, all participants will be required to wear appropriate attire, although advanced flame retardant fabrics will not be required, common flame resistant clothing will be.

• Aboriginal man set fires.
• Most rangelands developed with fire as natural, especially grasslands and savannahs.
• Grasslands favor fire & vice versa.  Most grasses & forbs are fire resistant.
• Changes in grasslands, e.g., brush invasions, often attributed have beento overgrazing, but actually caused by extensive control of fire.
• The role of climate is important, and interacts with grass to enhance fire, e. g., wind, lightning, humidity

• wildfire
• convenience burn
• controlled burn
• prescribed burn

• can devalue a resource or escape to unwanted locations
• can improve quality of grazing and wildlife habitat

• unwanted plant control
• forage quality
• grazing distribution
• excess litter
• habitat manipulation for wildlife

• Timing—time of year is the single most critical variable to the effects on the vegetation and land
• Fire Behavior—knowledge of it is needed

1) weather
wind
humidity
2) topography
slope direction-
exposure-
3) fuel
amount-
source-
volatile vs. nonvolatile
loose vs. compact
continuous vs. patchy
Effects of Burning on:
1) the soil,
2) the vegetation,
3) livestock performance,
4) wildlife habitat

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Outline of a Prescribed Burn Procedure


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PRE-BURN

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A. Learn current prescribed burning technology
B. Purpose of burn
C. Definition of area to be burned
D. Characterization of area to be burned
 1. Physical
  a. elevation
  b. topography
  c. soil type and location
  d. climate and weather patterns
 2. Biological
  a. vegetation type
  b. fuel (type, amount, density, continuity)
  c. wildlife and wildlife habitats
E. Constraints
 1. environmental
 2. multiple use
 3. economic
 4. operational (access, terrain, personnel)
 5. administrative
 6. legal (fire laws)
F. Treatment specifications
 1. desired effects
 2. desired fire behavior
 3. required environmental condition
 G. Treatment strategy
 1. burning technique
  a. type
  b. ignition sequence and methods
  c. fire breaks
 2. Crew assignments
 3. Equipment needs

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BURN

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A. Notification of affected parties
 1. adjacent landowners
 2. law enforcement personnel
 3. fire departments in area
B. Burn coordination
 1. burn director
 2. communication among workers

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POST-BURN

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 A. Mop up and patrol
 B. Burn evaluation
 C. Application of postburn treatments

Prescribed Burning Guidelines
Fire Effects Information
Firenet Virtual Library
Other Fire Web Sites
Ben Meadows Equipment