Fire!

Friday Dec. 21, 2020

As the volunteers are driving and walking to the ICECF grant work area (where we are industriously removing invasive and weedy shrubs like buckthorn and honeysuckle), you will see letters posted in various places. Yes, alphabet letters!

We use these when we conduct a prescribed burn. Volunteer stewards carefully follow the direction of the certified Burn Boss. This includes a reading a map with the unit to be burned outlined and with letters posted. That way, when you are burning and you reach letter G, you can easily orient yourself. Not all volunteer fire stewards are “regulars” – they may not know Lily Pad Pond from Orchid Wetland. But they do know the alphabet!

Prescribed fire helps the grant site (and other areas too). Prescribed fire removes a layer of duff, weeds and dead grass thus allowing the ground to warm earlier in the Spring. Prescribed fire returns nutrients to the soil. Prescribed fire controls some nasty re-sprouting weeds. Prescribed fire, used carefully, is another tool in our work box.

We always leave PLENTY of unburned area for habitat, especially for over-wintering insects and egg cases.