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Historic Landscapes

Soil Erosion Exotic Species Prescribed Fire Preserving Historic Landscapes Maintaining Historic Resources Park Watch Restoring the Historic Scene

Prescribed Fire

 

Prescribed fire is a valuable tool which is used to restore and maintain the historic landscape.  It is one of the most economical and efficient methods to control the spread of exotic species and regenerate natural grasses.  Prescribed fire eliminates the need for personnel to work on hazardous slopes with dangerous power and hand tools.  When compared to the high cost of machinery and hand labor, it has proven to be extremely quick and inexpensive. 1stpfire.jpg (30480 bytes)
firebrke.jpg (50816 bytes) Shown above:  The first prescribed fire at Vicksburg National Military Park was started on March 8, 1997.  Fire was used to control the spread of exotic species and restore an historic hillside near the Old Graveyard Road.

At left, Rangers prepare a 10-acre kudzu site for burning.  Fire breaks are cut through the tall vegetation. Vines and hanging branches are removed from trees.  The area is carefully evaluated for potential hazards and problems.
Recording of fire weather information is a daily task.  Readings are entered into the National Fire Weather computer systems.  The data is analyzed to determine the perfect prescribed fire conditions.  Environmental factors including wind speed, wind direction, fuel moisture, and smoke dispersion must meet specific parameters before a prescribed fire can be started. firewthr.jpg (35456 bytes)
briefing.jpg (41282 bytes) The Fire Boss conducts a pre-fire safety meeting with firefighters.  A checklist for the fire plan is completed, including a review of weather, fire objectives, employee positioning, safety, and equipment inspection.  A small test plot is burned to evaluate existing fire conditions. When all elements are determined to be within parameters, the fire plan is implemented.
A drip torch is used to ignite dried vegetation.  It contains a mix of jellied gasoline and diesel fuel which can be easily poured onto the ground as an ignition source to start a prescribed fire.  Rangers monitor the ground fire and stand ready with fire suppression equipment to control the spread of flames and prevent escape.  set2.jpg (43689 bytes)
set1.jpg (46050 bytes) A ranger carefully ignites the dried vegetation along the park boundary from a predetermined control line.  The dense green vegetation in the background was the source of the exotic species (kudzu), which is outside of the park boundary.  
Rangers wear protective clothing which includes a fire resistant shirt, pants, steel toe boots, gloves, safety helmet, goggles, and a utility belt with a fire shelter, canteen and food items. driptrch.jpg (52660 bytes)
set3.jpg (46178 bytes) The burn area is ignited in small strips starting with a backfire at the downwind edge of the plot.  A backfire involves burning vegetation and eliminating fuel from a predetermined control line. The backfire burns in a direction towards the wind.  If the wind starts to force the fire it would reenter the burned area and lose intensity because of lack of fuel.

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Last update: Monday, January 22, 2001
http://www.nps.gov/vick/preserve/presfire.htm
Editor: G. Zeman
 

Vicksburg National Military Park
3201 Clay Street
Vicksburg, MS 39183
(601) 636-0583
Vick_Interpretation@nps.gov
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