Prescribed burns spring 2025

@BSK - I'm by far an expert but I've burned a few acres and found in hilly terrain if you're willing to take your time it's not that bad. Basically you'll need to get a good backing fire up top to establish black line then run strip head fires every 20-30 yards and work your way down the slope. This way nothing gets too out of control. Also as mentioned a back pack blower does really well setting lines. IMHO the issues happen when folks want to light it once at the base of a ridge and let it eat.

On my ridges I find that the topography generally wins over wind direction unless winds get above 15mph.
 
DPinTN said:
@BSK - I'm by far an expert but I've burned a few acres and found in hilly terrain if you're willing to take your time it's not that bad. Basically you'll need to get a good backing fire up top to establish black line then run strip head fires every 20-30 yards and work your way down the slope. This way nothing gets too out of control. Also as mentioned a back pack blower does really well setting lines. IMHO the issues happen when folks want to light it once at the base of a ridge and let it eat.

On my ridges I find that the topography generally wins over wind direction unless winds get above 15mph.
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This last line for sure- if you understand thermals you'll have a leg up understanding fire behavior
 
MickThompson said:
This last line for sure- if you understand thermals you'll have a leg up understanding fire behavior
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100% True.

Fire can seemingly run backwards in hilly ground till you figure this out. Thermals and eddies too. Part of the reason why the little test fire is critical when you start…if it don't act right take note.

Fire can have a mind of its own but thermals and eddies are often the "voice" speaking to the fire's mind (glad my place is pretty flat in these regards).

It can absolutely turn on you in a heartbeat. A time or 3 we've gone from basically babysitting w/heels kicked up checking texts from work and NCAA tournament scores to get water over here NOW. Never got out but you definitely gotta keep your head on a swivel and driving your breaks during and after your burns. Chainsaws ready to start with one yank and water.
 
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Boll Weevil said:
100% True.

Fire can seemingly run backwards in hilly ground till you figure this out. Thermals and eddies too. Part of the reason why the little test fire is critical when you start…if it don't act right take note.

Fire can have a mind of its own but thermals and eddies are often the "voice" speaking to the fire's mind (glad my place is pretty flat in these regards).

It can absolutely turn on you in a heartbeat. A time or 3 we've gone from basically babysitting w/heels kicked up checking texts from work and NCAA tournament scores to get water over here NOW. Never got out but you definitely gotta keep your head on a swivel and driving your breaks during and after your burns. Chainsaws ready to start with one yank and water.
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Absolutely!
 
DPinTN said:
@BSK - I'm by far an expert but I've burned a few acres and found in hilly terrain if you're willing to take your time it's not that bad. Basically you'll need to get a good backing fire up top to establish black line then run strip head fires every 20-30 yards and work your way down the slope. This way nothing gets too out of control. Also as mentioned a back pack blower does really well setting lines. IMHO the issues happen when folks want to light it once at the base of a ridge and let it eat.

On my ridges I find that the topography generally wins over wind direction unless winds get above 15mph.
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Spot on. Terrain is king with thermals, and stripping definitely helps. Saturday was a no-go. Over about 12 is my limit, and we had a max gust on that day of 29.8. A 12 mph wind is WINDY! More than most realize. On my kestrel and wind meter on our weather station, winds were very high, even though our meter gauged them at less that 6mph. Especially ON a 6-10' fire break and embers are flowing everywhere. And I hate the little "tornados" that flare up. I like slow days for sure!
 
JCDEERMAN said:
Spot on. Terrain is king with thermals, and stripping definitely helps. Saturday was a no-go. Over about 12 is my limit, and we had a max gust on that day of 29.8. A 12 mph wind is WINDY! More than most realize. On my kestrel and wind meter on our weather station, winds were very high, even though our meter gauged them at less that 6mph. Especially ON a 6-10' fire break and embers are flowing everywhere. And I hate the little "tornados" that flare up. I like slow days for sure!
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A half lit oak leaf can ruin your day and night in a hurry under those conditions
 
We would definitely be burning down the hill, not up the hill. I've seen what happens when fires lit at the base of a hill create their own upslope wind and turn into a raging inferno.

The biggest problem with strip-lighting down the hill is access. Currently, we cannot enter the burn area. It is 100% 8 to 10-foot blackberries. A person cannot force their way through (without wearing a suit of armor). The second problem is creating firebreaks. That's going to take a lot of bulldozer work. Not that it can't be done, just expensive work.
 

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