Prescribed Burning in Southeast Minnesota

I have been working for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the last 5 years, and have been involved in several prescribed burns. Due to the climate of southeast Minnesota, wildfires are a rare occurrence, so the DNR uses periodic prescribed burns to invigorate growth and remove invasive species within certain boundaries in their parks. The intentions of the burn included removal of buckthorn, an invasive bush that has spread throughout the area, while removing ground cover to make room for native prairie grasses.

My first prescribed burn was in 2011 in Whitewater State Park. The area that was to be burned was the cliff side along the Chimney Rock trail. The trail leads up to the highest point in the park, and the cliff side is roughly a 55 degree grade.

The team consisted of eight crew members, which included Naturalists, Park Rangers, and Building and Maintenance. We were broken up into four groups of two. One would be responsible for ignition, while the other would be responsible for suppression. I was suppression, which meant carrying an eighty pound pack of water on my back while walking up and down the cliff side. Suppression involved preventing the fire from spreading outside the projected boundaries, as well as any irreversible damage to the mature trees within the boundaries.

Since then, I've been involved in at least one prescribed burn every season.