The Nature Conservancy in Missouri - Diary of a Burn Boss-Part 2

Here the crew examines weather station data as we wait for the skies to clear and smoke lofting conditions to improve. Weather fell just right mid week for a burn. © The Nature Conservancy

Dennis Perkins rakes the mowed fire break between the fire unit and the office complex of buildings, vehicles, fuel tanks, and crew tents.

© The Nature Conservancy

Tom McCollum ignites backing fire, fire moving into the wind, on the down wind side of the fire unit along the county gravel road. © The Nature Conservancy

Crew on patrol in the new Yamaha Rhino UTV. This new generation of ATV-like machine carries two people, a water spray unit, and tools and equipment and is an improvement in efficiency and safety on the fireline for our crews.
© The Nature Conservancy

Diary of a Burn Boss

By Blane Heumann
Director of Stewardship, The Nature Conservancy in Missouri

March 29, 2007

The fire crews have been at Dunn Ranch this week, even though the forecast has been for rain all week. The spring fire crew period has only one and a half weeks remaining. I felt it was best for us to come to Dunn and work and camp in the rain, doing positive things for Dunn Ranch and being hopeful for good weather.

These last two and a half weeks have been frustratingly wet across the state and have allowed us only one burn in southwest Missouri during that time. However, one could say that someone on the crews has been "living right" because despite the forecast of rain, the weather fell in place to allow us to burn the restoration plantings on the Westlake tract of Dunn Ranch between rain storms. This area is approximately 310 acres of preserve surrounding the office and shop complex.

During logistical planning for this burn, there was some question about whether the wet conditions would allow our burn to meet management objectives, brush and brush pile reduction and grass litter consumption to encourage prairie vegetation in the restoration plantings. The west half of the unit burned well, including numerous brush piles cleared from the draws and creek drainages over the past five years.

After the burn, there was no doubt that we met our objectives for this 310 acres in grand fashion. And all buildings in and around this fire unit are still standing.

Back: Blane's First Entry