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Diary of a Burn Boss
By Blane Heumann
Director of Stewardship, The Nature Conservancy in Missouri
February 11, 2008
Fire in Belize—fire management training in the Toledo District of southern Belize
Day 1: Climate Shock
In the 4 a.m. darkness and 20 degree chill of my Van Buren driveway, I listen to the weather forecast calling for freezing rain and sleet. Thanks to an early start, I safely make three hours of pre-dawn driving to St Louis preceeding an ice storm that will shut down roads and schools in southeast Missouri for most of the week to come.
As my plane rises above Lambert Field, sleet begins to fall. Six hours of airplanes and airports later, I step into a steamy tropical climate of 90 degrees and 60 percent relative humidity. Welcome to Belize City.It is obvious, I think as I climbed down the stairs from the rear of the plane, that modern air travel transports people between places and climates in a way that is quite odd to the human senses.
Outside the airport, I meet up with Steve Morrison, a Conservancy burn boss from Florida and fellow fire instructor, and pile my gear into his rental truck. We make our way to Belmopan, the modern capital of Belize and location of the Belize office of the Conservancy. As the day ends, I consider my first lesson of the trip: the three long-sleeve shirts packed in my limited luggage space will not be needed.
Back: Blane's First Entry About Belize
Next: Day Two in Belize
Above Photo: Prescribed fire in Belize © TNC
