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NCTPBA: EVENT ARCHIVE
PRESCRIBED BURN - Long Straw Ranch
LOCATION: MONTAGUE COUNTY
DATE: July 17 2010
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Summary: Burn was conducted at Long Straw Ranch on Saturday, July 17, in Montague County, TX. The burn site was a field of coastal Bermuda grass. The burn was intended to clear the field so it can be plowed and planted with native grasses for bird cover.
It was the hottest day of the year (102) so we tried to start early. The burn started at 0900 and was completed by 1200.
The burn was conducted by Brandon Leonard (Bowie) and Justin Walker (Montague), and they are the primary consultants executing a WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program) Conservation plan in conjunction with NRCS on the Long Straw property. Charlie Newberry (Henrietta) from TPW and Brent Durham from NCTPBA were also on hand to lend their expertise in an advisory capacity. Charlie also conducted a short seminar on principles of prescribed burns and safety while we waited for the dew to dry in the morning.
A back fire was started on the North end of the field first and allowed to burn about 20yd into the main field. Once that was going and under control, flanking fires on the East and West were begun and moved in unison the entire length of the field. Two volunteers and one sprayer were left at the North end along with a spotter on a hilltop to watch for any sparks that might jump across onto adjacent fields. Two groups of five volunteers — each with a spraying rig — worked each of the flanking fires. When the two flanking fires reached the South end, a head fire was started and allowed to run with the wind. Absence of wind (<10 mph) made it was a relatively easy fire to contain and maintain.
Pre-Burn Notes: The burn area consisted of coastal Bermuda grass, which had been pre-treated with 5qt/ac of Roundup to provide for a good top kill. The burn crew established a floor of 35% to cut off if conditions got too dry. A firebreak approximately 30ft wide was cut around the field with a tractor and disc.
Burn Acreage: 30 acres.
Weather: 102F Humidity was approx 60% at start. Winds SW <10 mph
Equipment: Three ATV/Truck mounted water sprayers were deployed along with an auxiliary 200 gal water tank for refills (fortunately not needed as it turned out). Three drip cans were used to set the fire using a 60/40 diesel/gas mix.
Personnel: Twelve volunteers from neighboring counties assisted with the burn.
Burn Bosses: Brandon Leonard (Bowie) and Justin Walker (Montague)
Post-Burn Notes: The burn went extremely well. One lesson learned is that two walkie-talkie radios are not enough. The two sides of the field could communicate, but an additional 2-4 radios on the same frequency would have been essential if the fire would have gotten over the firebreak. Communication is a key element. After the fire, volunteers continued to monitor the field for hot spots and flare ups throughout the afternoon. By evening, the field was completely done smoldering. Further burns will be conducted on Long Straw in coming years as part of the WHIP conservation plan.
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