Controlled Forest Fires...

[gramps73]

Just watched the news on the forest fire that was set in K Country.
I understand why but is it necessary?

[HunterDave]

Apparently it rejuvenates the forest by getting rid of the old growth and allows the new growth to start over..........or something like that.

[nanuk-O-dah-Nort]

there areas around my city that could benefit from them

[saskbooknut]

Controlled burns are desirable for regeneration of wildlife habitat. Game species tend to explode as burns develop new growth making use of plentiful released nutrients.
Prescribed burns also remove litter that accumulates over the years, removing the risk of an uncontrollable wild fire later.
Our forests, and prairies evolved with periodic burns.

[Gary K]

any one know where exactly the burn is?

[artie]

Before the white man came the natives used to set huge forest fires. They had learned to have good game habitat that the old growth had to be burned to provide new growth for feed. It was us through fire control that allowed the forest to become old growth. Perhaps a few lightning strikes is a good thing. It would get rid of all that beetle killed pine. We just do not want fires taking out towns like Slave Lake or just about in the Crowsnest Pass a few years ago.

Originally Posted by Gary K

any one know where exactly the burn is?

Evan Thomas area.
http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/08/02...rescribed-burn

I'd say burn more....lots more!

[Gary K]

Thanks sheep, of course I goggled it and its the first thing to come up after searching " kananaskis prescribed burn" go figure, its that easy!

[mikeo2]

Controlled burns are absolutely neccesary and should be used a lot more than they are. They rejuvenate the forest and the vegetation/habitat, fire once played a very important role in ecosystems. In fact the reason we see huge fires today such as the one that caused all the damage in Slave Lake and pest infestation such as the MOuntain Pine beetle is because of humans intervention and fire supression. We as humans see fire and instinctively think its bad but if we had more controlled burns we wouldnt have near the amount of out of control forest fires we get. It would be awsome and a huge benefit if we could get controlled burns on the prairie and native grass to. I controlled burned a reclaimed wellsite of mine that was on native grass but had an infestation of Downy Brome (a bad weed if you didnt know) and the next year that little sqaure came up so lush and vibrant it looked completely out of place in that area and in fact the wildlife keyed in on it so bad that we had to put up elk fence to try and keep them out so it could get good and established.

[pogo]

Originally Posted by gramps73

Just watched the news on the forest fire that was set in K Country.
I understand why but is it necessary?

Yeah, like what did we do before airplanes and helicopters?

[Hunter Trav]

Originally Posted by sheephunter

I'd say burn more....lots more!

AMEN!!!!! Preach it brother TJ !!!!!!

[MountainTi]

Originally Posted by sheephunter

Evan Thomas area.
http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/08/02...rescribed-burn

I'd say burn more....lots more!

X2

[Jimmyjjj]

For people, I am pretty sure the biggest benifet is getting rid of all the underbrush that makes big fires so hard to control. For nature, it's like spring cleaning. Ever notice how green an area is a couple years after a fire?

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by gramps73

Just watched the news on the forest fire that was set in K Country.
I understand why but is it necessary?

Necessary, No.... It's a choice.


We can continue to supress wildfires and Not have any prescribed burns, then deal with the consequences when they come, including Loss of certain wildlife habitats and the risk of extremely large uncontrollable fires.

Or we can let wildfires burn when possible and set prescribed burns to alter wildlife habitat and reduce the risk of uncontrollable fires.

My opinion.... we need a lot more burning in the foothills and mountains.

[medicmoose]

these burns help controlle mountain pine beatle as well

Matt