When I moved back to Ohio in late 2018, I was eager to continue my study of fire ecology, keep up my Rx fire chops, and continue my wildland fire sawyer taskbook as well. Thanks to Woodcock Nature Preserve and the loose network of landowners who have participated, I have been able to make progress on at least some of these goals.
We have had three successive prescribed fire classes since then. The classes are aimed at landowners who want to burn their own property in the December to February time window, where permits are not legally required. My friend Mike, who has a LOT of experience, taught the first one for us at Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department. The second one I taught at United Plant Savers, a group that has been doing prairie grass burns for many years. This past season we had Aidan Cornelison come out and teach, she’s a burn boss from Missouri that did it as a favor since we’re friends. She developed an AWESOME slideshow, both operationally and ecologically spot on.
So far, all together we have taught about 50 people. Many of these folks, after having taken the class, have come out to get fireline experience as we manage the Woodcock Nature Preserve’s bobwhite quail prairie planting. We’ve been burning different parts of the prairie every year. It’s very gratifying to see more Indian grass, rattlesnake master and other natives expanding their footprint on the site, while there are fewer and fewer invasive woodies in the prairie. We’ve been careful not to burn the fence rows and the Red osier dogwood that was planted as native cover for the quail. For the first time this year in many y ears, the deer hunting team we partner with at the preserve saw a covey of quail, in our burn units! Other good ecological news from the praire, we’ve been planting Echinacea, Illinois bundleflower, blazing star and prairie dock on the ash-covered earth post harvest, and we saw our first Echinancea blooming this year.
This year we had our biggest burn ever, almost 20 acres! Eric Lee, a licensed drone pilot, took and edited some great footage of the event. A highlight of the experience was hanging out with our 5 other volunteers, they work so hard and we stand in awe of the 20 foot flames. It really is something to behold. Also, despite calling dispatch ahead of time, somehow two VFDs got scrambled to come put out the fire. When they arrived we said “Thanks y’all, wanna stay and help hold the line?” A few of them did, and they have asked to attend the next online training, and field day.
Here is Eric’s footage:
https://youtu.be/yYz9bomAPio
Here is the next classroom workshop (online because of COVID). Let me know if you can come, it’s March 20th 2021 and I’m very excited!
https://www.circlepinescenter.org/event/prescribed-fire-workshop-virtual/
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PS I am still working on my taskbook, we’ll see if I get out on the interagency crew or with the Wayne this year. If not, I’m angling to go out with Timmerman Fire Services on an engine, just to keep my hand in wildfire world. Additionally, I’m going to another burn this spring (assuming timing works out) with Olivia Espinoza at the Cincinnati Nature Center With that experience under an Ohio prescribed burn manager, I may apply to take the state class and get accredited myself. Having a prescribed fire cooperative enterprise would be a lot of fun, and we already have the gear cache built up pretty well at Woodcock.
Paradise Ecological Services 