Burning a Prairie

[RobS]

I'm mentally preparing to burn our pseudo-prairie. It's about four acres and is just beginning to show some woody growth which I want to discourage. My sister has a much more mature five acre prairie that they burn every year. I've got two main concerns: Naturally, I don't want the fire to get beyond my prairie but I'm also concerned that it won't burn at all as it's just not that thick yet.

If it doesn't burn, I'll just forget about it so that takes me back to the primary concern. No real concern about the house as it's across the driveway. Plenty of space to neighbors and the street area too. In the fall I cut a couple of passes around the perimeter very short and ran over that same perimeter with my landscape rake just yesterday. My plan is to have some buds over with rakes. I'll have a long hose from the house available and a 55 gallon drum on water on the back of my truck. All adjoining areas are turfgrass, pretty thin. I talked to a fireman friend the other day and he didn't seem concerned. No permits required in our township. Of course we'll have phones available. We've had some rain lately, so it's not bone dry and I'll make sure the wind is calm. I'm thinking we'll start in a corner and move in opposite directions (two teams) staying with the fire. We'll meet up on the other side of the field.

Any words of wisdom? Anyone done this before?

 

[goaliedad]

I am a big fan of burning, but ( with age ) have gotten much aware of the safety issues. First- I would check with the DNR about burning permits just to be sure. Next, would it be possible to divide the area into smaller sections. Cut a break in the middle so you are containing the fire in a workable area? In the past I was involved with burning a small patch of cat-tails and was shocked at how fast the fire moved. Good luck.

 

[Panache]

Light from the downwind side first. It is called a backburn. I burn 3 acres every year now and will be burning about 10 more per year starting next year. pump up yard sprayers work good as does a 15 gal electric sprayer.

 

[TC18guy]

Even though we had the big rain a few weeks ago, it is still pretty dry. I've heard about a few good grass fires lately. A guy here at work was burning garbage in his burn barrel a few weeks back. He went in the house to do some work and it wasn't too long and a neighbor come knocking on the door. He had a pretty good grass fire going. I think I'd just try to keep it small and controllable.

 

[Jimbrown]

Akkk!!! look out the guy over on Country By Net says you are poisoning the world.

 

[LBrown59]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Akkk!!! look out the guy over on Country By Net says you are poisoning the world. )</font>

Who's that?

 

[scott_vt]

Hi Rob,
It sounds like youve got all the bases covered to some extent anyways. My only input would be to watch the amount of wind you have at that point. As a volunteer fireman I have seen some real small brush fires turn ugly real quick with the right amount of wind in dry conditions! Also what are surrounding properties like as far as amount of burnable fuel? A few airborn sparks could make you have a bad day rather quickly /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

scotty

 

[RobertN]

As another Volunteer FF checking in, maybe check with your local Fire Dept to see if they want in on the action.

This would be an opportunity to get some training and practice in before(at least here...) wildland season starts. It's an opportunity to cut some hand lines, run a couple wet lines, practice a progressive hoselay, packing hose packs and all that fun stuff. That might even get you an Engine or water tender out there on standby...

 

[scott_vt]

Excellent point Robert ! Could turn into a fun day and no stress of the fire getting away from you!!!

scotty

 

[Jimbrown]

Look for "Burns my *ss"