Unit 6: Prescribed Burning

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Unit 6 Prescribed Burning

• Lesson 1, 2, 3
• International Paper
• Lesson VII

Modified by Georgia Agriculture Education
Curriculum Office June, 2002
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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

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When planning a prescribed burn, several factors
must be considered

• Fuel conditions
• Weather
• Season of the year
• Time of day
• Type of fire

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Fuel Conditions

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

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Weather Conditions- Available from the GFC,
updated daily

• Temperature- 20F to 60F for winter burning,
  80F 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

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Other Conditions

• Season of the Year- Winter provides more
  predictable weather with less stand damage
• Time of Day- Started by 1000am and out by night

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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

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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

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Smoke Sensitive Areas Include

• Airports
• Highways
• Communities
• Resort or recreational areas
• Schools
• Hospitals
• Factories
• Stock barns or holding pens

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Dont 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

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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, dont 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

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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