We completed our burns for the season on Sunday, March 29. The larger section included the high woods (unit 13), an area north of Toby’s Prairie, the Triangle, and Toby’s Prairie itself. We burned a small area of our marsh in the afternoon. Winds began from the southwest, but there were unpredictable pushes from the east.
One crew began lighting along the east edge of the unit 13 woods. The other line dipped into a ravine and progressed west and to the north of Toby’s Prairie.
View of Toby’s Prairie from the west. The upper savannas are behind me. As the north line rounded the corner and into Toby’s, they were surprised to see flames already emerging from the woods (top of the photo) and licking the tall prairie grasses. Those erratic pushes of wind from the east were responsible.
Because the prairie is igniting faster than predicted, the north crew raced to burn around trees to the north. Meanwhile, Amanda and company work to wet down the kestrel box as fires are strategically lit under and around it.
Spraying the kestrel box and pole with water.
Chris continues careful internal lighting as flames converge from three sides. Some question the placement of that kestrel box!
Everyone is safely out of the way as the prairie burn nears completion.
In what distant deeps or skies burnt the fire of thine eyes? On what wings dare he aspire? What the hand, dare seize the fire? William Blake “The Tiger”
Fire in Toby’s doing its thing.
After lunch, we decided to light a head fire in the marsh, from the barn heading east. Because there was black from previous burns on two sides and at the far east end, there was no danger of it getting away. The crew headed into the yucky, mucky marsh with torches and water cans. The west line (behind the barn) burned in rapidly, so that when the wind did a 180 (not unexpected), the fire was contained.
Head fire traveling from behind the barn to the east. At about this point, the wind reversed direction.
View of the marsh fire from Pleasant Valley Road. Josh lit along the lane after the wind shifted. The crew on the west line continued to get into the mud.
Lots of smoke from the burning wet marsh vegetation
A mini tornado (black smoke) during the marsh burn.
The smoky conclusion of the marsh fire. Note Josh on the left, admiring his work.
From Emily Dickinson’s “Ashes Denote That Fire Was”
Good burns. Fine poetry, the full texts of which was easy to find on the internet..