See Tom's Blog for a narrative of spring 2012 burns

One of the most important management tools in restoration ecology is fire.

Fire is a natural element in the ecosystem, and under appropriate conditions may develop spontaneously as a result of lightning strikes. Lightning-caused fires occur mainly during warm windy dry conditions and hence occur rather randomly. However, tree ring studies have shown that most oak savannas were burned at 10-year or more intervals.

Imitating nature, humans throughout the world have used fire for thousands of years. In North America, fire was used by Native Americans to encourage berry production, expose acorns for collection, prepare planting sites, control undesirable pests, fireproof villages, create and maintain open woodlands and savannas, concentrate game, and help maintain trails. Fires were ignited either in spring, before plants had started to grow, or in fall, after frosts had killed above ground parts of plants.

When European settlers displaced Native Americans, the use of fire continued, for many of the same reasons. In the hill country of southwestern Wisconsin, farmers continued to use fire to keep grazing land from getting choked with brush and weeds. Early spring burns encourage the growth of grasses by removing detritus and debris, and by top-killing shrubs.

However, by the late 19th century, widespread logging left vast acreages with dried slash that ignited easily and burned with unusual power, creating landscapes prone to dangerous high-intensity wildfires. State laws related to wildfires were enacted to prevent damage to the land and to humans. In the early 1900s, the newly established U.S. Forest Service began a major campaign to control forest fires. "Smoky the Bear" was created as an icon of fire suppression. All of these activities had unintended consequences, destroying the values that the oak forest provided, and replacing the oaks with undesirable trees and shrubs.

Fire was reintroduced into the Upper Midwest as a management tool in the 1940s by John Curtis and associates during their work on the establishment of new prairies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum. The demonstration of fire’s utility led to a gradual increase in the use of fire throughout the region.

A typical prairie/savanna burn on the south-facing slope at Pleasant Valley Conservancy. The two photos were taken at the same location (note the small double tree in the middle). The burn was done on March 19. The photo on the left was taken on September 13.

Prescribed Fire

The term "prescribed fire" refers to fires that are set on purpose according to a written and approved plan, the prescription. The plan describes the objectives of the burn and the expected results. The burn plan specifies, either in words or by a map, the parcel of land to be burned, the landowner(s), and owners of adjacent land not included in the burn. Any considerations of smoke management are identified. The burn plan specifies the required governmental permits, and lists those who must be notified on the day the burn is to take place. The locations and characteristics of all fire breaks are given, as well as strategies for containment of fire within the burn unit. Any preparations of the burn unit needed before the burn can take place are indicated, including a list of fire sensitive elements within or near the burn unit that must be protected. The burn plan should state the personnel needed, as well as their qualifications and duties. The burn plan also lists the equipment needed to conduct the burn.

In Wisconsin, prescribed fire is now a critical management tool for organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, The Prairie Enthusiasts, Pheasants Forever, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Many private landowners also use prescribed fire on a regular basis. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, through its Natural Resources and Conservation Service, strongly promotes the use of prescribed fire in management of private lands that have been dedicated to various soil and water conservation programs. The Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council strives to make the use of fire in Wisconsin safer and more accepted. A number of commercial contractors carry out prescribed burns for landowners.

Since the early 1970s there has been a gradual reintroduction of the use of prescribed fire. Even the forest industry now realizes that in the oak forest fire plays a major role in removing many weedy trees and shrubs. Prescribed fire removes the thin-barked shrubs and trees from the midstory and understory of the forest without harming the dominant oaks. Fire also consumes the litter, thus promoting the growth of grasses and forbs, and encouraging the regeneration of oak. Long-term research studies have shown that annual burns over a number of years gradually restore the oak savanna to its original state.

Burn Equipment Used at Pleasant Valley Conservancy

We are well equipped to carry out safe and effective prescribed burns.

Water Our electrically operated well provides an unlimited amount of water.

Pumper Units Kawasaki Mule (4 WD All Terrain Vehicle) with 65 gallon tank, 100 feet of hose, high-pressure hose nozzle, 5.5 HP Honda gasoline operated engine. An additional 200-feet of hose can be added if needed.

Backpack Water Sprayers We have six backpack water sprayers with special waist-band harnesses. These 5-gallon unist have brass slide-action hand-operated pumps. It is possible to spray precisely and accurately. This sort of unit is useful for putting out small (spot) fires or for controlling fires in areas inaccessible to ATVs or trucks.

Flappers We have two flappers for use in putting out small spot fires.

Drip torches We have three drip torches capable of dispensing fire (lighted fuel) along a fire line or throughout a burn unit. The tank is a heavy-duty aluminum canister with a specially designed fire nozzle equipped with a safety loop that prevents flashback. A check valve in the cover provides a second level of protection against flashback. The fuel is a mixture of 2 parts diesel and 1 part gasoline. Once lighted, the fire drips slowly out of the end.

Two-way radios We have ten wide range two-way radios, each capable of reaching anywhere in the Conservancy. Our radios are Kenwoods that are capable of transmitting up to 6 miles, even over rough terrain and through smoke. Special hands-free harnesses are used.

Fire protective clothing We wear Nomex fire protective clothing.

Additional equipment from the Prairie Enthusiasts We can also borrow additional equipment from the Empire-Sauk Chapter of the Prairie Enthusiasts including more two-way radios operating on the same frequencies, more drip torches, more backpack water cans, and more flappers.

Mule pumper unit

Use of the drip torch

Worker equipped with fire-resistant jump suit of Nomex. The water can is mounted on a used knapsack frame.