Firefighters onsite for our prescribed burns this week were Meskwaki Nation, USWFS (BIA), Menominee Tribal Enterprises and Montour Fire. Thank you for your assistance.
This article, written by Zane Old Bear, Meskwaki Natural Resources Concervation Aide, appeared in the March issue of the Meskwaki Nation Times
“As the end of winter is approaching you may have already noticed large chutes of smoke rising over fields and grasslands as the prescribed fire season has already begun for some Iowa counties. So, too, the Meskwaki Natural Resources department is beginning to prepare and welcome the upcoming prescribed fire season here at the Meskwaki Settlement. As in recent years, burns occur during March and sometimes extend into April depending on how many acres of field need to be managed. For this upcoming season there are a total of 551 acres of Tribal CRP field set to be burned.
Controlled burns are intentionally set to manage forests and land, primarily to reduce hazardous fuel buildup like dead wood and leaves that fuels dangerous, uncontrollable wildfires. These planned fires also improve ecosystem health by restoring nutrients to the soil, managing invasive species, and enhancing habitat for wildlife.
With the recent unseasonable temperatures occurring in the state, ongoing warmer temperatures, gusty winds, and dry vegetation make for elevated fire weather risk. According to the recent Iowa Drought Report about 57% (31820 square miles) of Iowa is in “Abnormally dry” conditions, while approximately 1% (583 square miles) is under drought conditions. During these dry conditions it is vital to discard cigarette butts properly and to avoid outdoor burning even if the local area is or is not included in a burn ban, for if a fire were to start it would have a high potential to spread rapidly over an area that is suffering from these abnormally dry conditions.
It is important to note that the use of controlled burns does carry certain risks as smoke from burns can influence air quality which can cause respiratory issues for individuals with asthma or COPD and the potential for Containment Loss due to unexpected shifts in weather patterns, which can also lead to property damage if not managed correctly. Be advised that these are the most common risks during prescribed fire operations and should always be taken seriously. Please be aware of the controlled burns taking place here on the Settlement and most importantly: be cool.”
~ Zane Old Bear, MNR Conservation Aide