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Post by Free-Loader on Apr 13, 2006 23:56:23 GMT -5
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Post by DEERTRACKS on Apr 14, 2006 14:15:43 GMT -5
Nice pics.
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Post by danf on Apr 15, 2006 20:25:20 GMT -5
Coupla comments, please take them as constructive criticism. Rubber hip boots are the LAST thing you should have on. Anyone going out to fight a wildland fire is required to have on (as a minimum) 8" ALL LEATHER boots. No synthetics. Even though you are burning for yourself, that's something you should keep in mind. Rubber/plastic sticks, and it hurts like h*ll when it burns and sticks to you. As for clothing, everything should be 100% cotton, for the same reason you should have leather boots. Nomex pants and shirt would be even better, but I realize that not everyone has access to them, or money to buy them. They really aren't that expensive to buy as a set, last I checked (admittedly, it's been a while) it was ~$100 for both the pants and the shirt. You might be able to find surplus for cheaper. You also need to stay in the BLACK. Unless you have been through wildland fire training, and are cutting a fire line, there is no reason you should be in the unburned areas. Period. I don't know how you burned this field, or what kind of flame lenths you were seeing, but IIRC, flame lengths over 6' is considered uncontrollable. Keep that in mind. Though it's difficult to tell if you did this, I would consider mowing a path around the outside of the field to act as a fireline. Blow all of the cuttings back to the inside when you do. I'd also consider discing or plowing to act as a better fireline. The DNR uses foam to lay down a line, but that's not something the average person has the capability to do!  I'm not trying to be harsh, and I hope I didn't come across as such. I have held "red card" certification in the past (meaning I could get called to go with the state to fight wildland fires anyplace assistance was needed). I have also helped the DNR do prescription burning, and believe me it gets HOT, and can get that way FAST. I can give you more information if you are interested. |
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Post by Woody Williams on Apr 15, 2006 20:42:30 GMT -5
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Post by Free-Loader on Apr 16, 2006 20:15:18 GMT -5
Hey Danf.
Thanks for the comments and believe me I know all of what you said. On the rubber boots issue, I was planting trees in my wetland and burning and do not have the ability to keep changing clothes. That burn was a very small one and many precautions were taken compared to what I see many landowners do. I have been burning for the last 5-6 years with guys who are red carded and fight fires out west. I have also been through the training although not redcarded. When I worked for an ecological consulting company it was mandatory to have a redcarded burn boss on site. Many of the burns I have been through were in excess of 200 acres mainly in Lake County so to let you know I am not that average guy you mentioned. For these tiny burns I feel using foam would have been a bit overboard not to mention keeping the costs to a minumum. We had plenty of water(spray units) on site and the correct equipment including cutting fire lanes. Now that you mention the cotton clothing it was something I had forgotton. I remember using the burn gear a few years back and how uncomfortable it was but do remember the costs. I guess if I did this for a living I would invest in some quality stuff but for now it isn't worth the extra cost for such small burns. I got a guy up here that has been my burn mentor for years and has been onsite during most of my burns. Nothing like getting paid for burning and planting native vegetation and then when his guys out west need him he jets out to where ever they need his help for a few months.
I did not take anything you said personal as they are all good points and we all need to be more careful. I feel that there are many things landowners can do to be more careful, but don't want to make it too complicated for them to burn their own property. I just hope more will learn the benefits of burning off their prairies. I plan to see some of my Wild Lupine show up this year since one of the areas burned was planted with it four years ago. Thanks for the comments.
Woody, too bad you never found out if someone set it or was it mother nature. Well at least it benefited your prairie grass but hope it didn't kill any trees. The DNR had a fire get out of control just down the road on one of their fish and wildlife areas and it killed acres of trees. If the wind pushed that fire fast enough, the trees will be fine because the flames didn't get enough time to scorch them. Some of the smaller saplings will die but thats usually a good thing.
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