1:40 p.m.
I walk back and report to George. Then, I head around to the other side of the burn unit near the pond. George calls over the radio to remind us to a drink lot of water. We’re walking around in the heat of the fire, wearing heavy suits and faced with a lot of smoke. With those kinds of conditions you can quickly become dehydrated.
Along the edge of the pond is a field of native sedge, which Wayne later tells me is habitat for the rare carpenter frog. The edge of the pond is marshy and muddy. The area is full of tree stumps, which the Maryland/DC chapter and volunteers cut from the edge of the pond to keep the trees from encroaching on the pond. I watch the fire creep up slowly toward me as it ignites the sedge.
2:13 p.m.
I walk to the far end of the Delmarva Bay and watch the smoke waft over the water. As I walk along the shoreline, I notice deer tracks. Off the water, a small flock of waterfowl takes flight. After meandering, I head back. I get another assignment: Drive to the local gas station and pick up more diesel fuel to ignite the fire. I’m glad yet again to get another assignment, because now I feel like I’m contributing to the effort. On my drive back from the station, I noticed the forestry department sign that says, “Forest fire risk: low.”
3:12 p.m.
I get back from the gas station. We joke about the store attendant who gave me a strange look when I walked into her store wearing my bright yellow jumpsuit. George offers Deborah L. and Caroline a chance to begin walking inside the burn unit and ignite some internal lines. The fire has burned far along enough for them to safely make their way inside. He talks about wrapping up our work for the day.
As I walk along the edge of the pond, the sedge—now blackened—crunches at each step. I catch sight of something jumping in front of me. It’s a tiny frog, covered in soot, hopping toward the water. I mention this later to George, who has been involved in more than 130 prescribed burns in his career, and he mentions that at previous burns he’s seen snakes emerge unscathed from fire—probably hiding in underground burrows.
The acrid smell of smoke earlier in the day has rescinded and now the scent is of one closer to incense. The team now is mostly dousing water on the embers and smoldering wood piles to cool any remaining hot spots.
4:00 p.m. -- The debriefing
We’ve finished up the major work for the day. George congratulates the crew on an excellent job. He notes that the weather was perfect for the burn. Deborah L., who has spent months organizing this, is extremely pleased. But because it rained just two days ago, many of the larger logs are still soaked and will probably remain so for a while. It’s amazing to see the number of small pine saplings, mushrooms and other plants that have survived the blaze. Wesley and Paula ask, “Where’s the next burn?” Everyone is excited and energized by the work and can’t wait to do it again. Wayne invites the Deborahs and Caroline to the state’s upcoming prescribed burns—the state will do several this spring.
We begin wrapping up the hoses and packing up the equipment. George has a long drive back to Pennsylvania this evening. The Deborahs will stay in the area overnight at a local motel. They’ll come back periodically during the evening to make sure the flames stay extinguished.
Deborah L. and Caroline will come back in the next few weeks to check the growth of vegetation on the site. They’ll be keeping an eye out for a resurgence of Japanese honeysuckle. They’ll also watch for other plants that may be spurred to regenerate because of the fire. I don’t realize how exhausted I am until I sit down. I offer to drive the two-and-a-half hour return trip and let Caroline rest. It’s the least I can do as thanks to her and the crew letting me join in on what we all agree has been an incredible day.
For more about prescribed burns:
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