Burn Boss, Bert Turner and burn crews from The Nature Conservancy and Arkansas State Parks, along with volunteers from CAMN, accomplished a prescribed burn at PMPS on Tuesday, January 24.  Scheduling these burns presents many obstacles, the primary one being weather and this burn was an example of that.  Already rescheduled from a previous rained out date, the burn was moved to Wednesday of this week - only to have nearly 100% chance of rain in the forecast for Wednesday.  Kudos to all involved, however, for a last minute move to Tuesday.  Burn crews and volunteers were there to make it happen.

According to Bert, the day went very well.  CAMN volunteers, Bill Toland, Jerry Meeks, Sharon Fergusson, Joe Wankum, and Leo Sufka worked long hours keeping the public out and away from danger. The burn was delayed until late morning because the leaf litter was wet. The moisture prevented the burn from being ideal, but much was accomplished.  They exceeded the goal of 50% coverage and litter reduction.  

  The outcome of the burn will include improved habitat and drainage.  In addition,  the fuel load was reduced dramatically so the possibility and severity of a wildfire were significantly reduced.

Improved habitat benefits wildlife in the the long run, but even in the short run, there was no evidence of any wildlife destruction other than a few insects.   As slow and as low as the flames go, wildlife usually has plenty of time to get away by going underground, flying, or running away — which is not always the case with a wildfire. 

A picture of the burn appeared in the Democrat Gazette on Wednesday and a segment on the burn will also appear on Larry Brannan's "Clean and Green" that is part of Talk Business on Fox 16.  Right now the spot is due to air on February 12 at 10:00 pm.   Updates will be available should that air date change. 

Thanks so much to Burn Boss Bert, who coordinated the burn, and to the other volunteers who helped out.  Can't wait to see the area in the spring as it greens up and provides an improved habitat for the wildlife of PMSP.  

 For addition photos see  http://home.arkansasmasternaturalists.org/index.php?option=com_joomgallery&func=detail&id=1150&Itemid=50