By: Robyn Stewart, ANR Agent
Wildfires in California continue to blaze in one of the most extraordinary fire seasons ever. Several weeks ago, the August complex fire in Northern California expanded beyond 1 million acres, making it the first “gigafire” in modern history. Over 4 million acres have burned this year, more than double the previous annual record, and countless deaths and property losses have been documented. While we certainly do not want to experience the natural disaster that California is facing, the abundant amount of forestry and timber production in Lincoln County can benefit from prescribed burns.
For thousands of years, humans have used fire to help drive game, improve grazing conditions, clear land, and prevent wildfires. Following a fire, there are many benefits to an ecosystem. Grasses, legumes, and other plants germinate and flower after a fire and produce seeds that feed birds and other wildlife. The new growth also provides cover for small mammals and young turkeys and quail. Fire also burns away leaf litter and exposes insects and seeds on the forest floor, which are a valuable food source for wildlife. Less leaf litter and downed brush also means a reduced risk for severe wildfire and encourages germination of pines and other plants. Burning also releases nutrients into the soil, improving fertility of the area and benefitting plant life. Most native wildlife and plants are best adapted to habitats that experience frequent fires, so areas that are burned less frequently than once every 5 years do not maintain quality wildlife.
Prescribed burning on private land is hindered by lack of knowledge/experience, restrictive air quality standards, lack of equipment or personnel, liability and smoke concerns, tract sizes, financial limitations, and urbanization. A prescribed burn that gets out of control can be devastating, as evident by the fires in California this year. Typically pine stands can be burned anytime after establishment so long as the saplings are between 1 and 6 feet tall; but many stands won’t be burned until the majority of trees are 15-20 feet tall. Conducting a prescribed burn after a thinning operation increases the chance that the fire will stimulate ground cover development. A prescribed burn in a forest with extensive middle and overstory trees (heavy canopy) does not improve habitat because sunlight cannot reach the forest floor to help promote beneficial plant growth.
In our area, most prescribed burns are conducted between January and March, when most trees are dormant. During this time, burns are less likely to damage canopy trees and adjacent properties as there are fewer flammable materials and leaves during this time. It should be noted that winter burns do not kill young hardwoods, so repeated burns may be necessary to encourage grass and wildflower growth. A growing season burn will impact the habitat differently than a dormant season burn. Forests burned more frequently (1-3 years) and during the growing season tend to have more open canopies and develop more grasses and forbs on the forest floor. Forests burned less frequently (3-5 years) and in the winter develop a dense understory following the fire.
If you are interested in developing a prescribed burn plan for your property, you will want to work with the Georgia Forestry Commission. They can help you to develop a burn plan, get the appropriate burn permits, and be on standby to make sure that the burn goes smoothly. If you have questions about running a prescribed burn, let us know at uge3181@uga.edu or 706-359-3233
