The weather station is constantly talking about the cold ‘stuff’ falling outside your window. From the wintry mix to the massive amounts of snow to the odd showers of pure ice that have stopped traffic and literally frozen many states that were simply not ready to receive this blast of Old Man Winter, it still remains that in many states controlled burning is also a horrific winter issue.
There have been fires sparked this winter; the winds have picked up when least expected, and the reality is that many do not have the understanding they need to control a burn so that brush fires will not spark. In the backs of minds comes the belief that since this is wintertime, fire is not an issue. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
Most know about reforestation; it is one part of the U.S. industry and economy that is having success. The stories are grand, including the U.S. government re-seeding millions of acres of land with baby saplings. Innovative ideas have come into play that include using planes as the mechanisms to re-seed. By flying over once completely inaccessible land, they are dropping trees weighted down with arrow tips so they can actually plant themselves. Native flora is being brought back to withered locations, and the controlled burns that must be utilized to ‘clean and clear’ old land in order to rebuild habitats still remain highly important and frequently done.
However, burning brush or winter weeds is not something to be taken lightly. From back lawns to huge national forests, many want to clear out and rebuild, especially with climate change making some environments far worse; odd temperatures and weather are causing habitats to die out, which is why controlled burning has remained the chosen path to bring them back to life.
Forest and prairie fires occur by Mother Nature’s hand; the fires rejuvenate ecosystems that are in dire need of change. However, climate change is causing more intense wildfires, which means controlled burns are being done to literally remove the fuel (dead branches, withered grass, dead vegetation, etc.) so these more harmful fires do not have the energy to destroy.
Using a controlled burn is the correct way to help a habitat, but setting the controlled burn must be taken as a huge responsibility by any landowner. By setting a controlled burn, you can manage various locations and ecosystems that will end up producing fire-adapted plants and animals – this is part of the resilience of the land. And by creating a controlled burn, you ensure that natural areas will continue to provide clean air and water to both humans and animals.
As a land management tool, controlled burns are important. But it should be known that extensive training is given to private individuals so they can follow the same standards as the federal wildland fire agencies. The Nature Conservancy is but one that provides this training, and they work to make humans understand that fire, although a much-needed tool, will become destructive if not set and maintained properly.
So even though the news is shouting about precipitation everywhere, remember that just because the snow is falling in one location does not mean it falls in every location. Making the decision to burn is based on the area and what the area truly needs in order to rejuvenate. So make sure that burns are only be set up when the natural benefits to the habitat outweigh the dangers.
Have a positive impact on the land. Learn about controlled burning, and utilize this tool in order to improve vegetation, agricultural planting and harvesting.
Smokey the Bear is no joke. Be Safe!