Questions and Answers
- What is the difference between a controlled burn and a prescribed fire?
- The two phrases have the same meaning, but a prescribed fire is the application of fire to the land under specific conditions to accomplish specific land management goals and objectives. A controlled burn is a more generic term with different meanings to different people.
- How do I manage the smoke from a prescribed fire?
- There are many different ways to manage smoke, such as wind direction, you can read more in the Smoke Management section.
- What is the recommended wind speed to conduct a prescribed burn?
- Wind speed will vary with goals and objectives of the burn, you can read more in the Prescribed Fire Weather section.
- How does fire affect woody plants like sumac, blackberry, mesquite, oak trees, or sand sagebrush?
- Most woody plants will resprout after fire, you can learn more in the Fire Effects section.
- What is the most important aspect about using fire to control woody plants?
- Frequency is the most important factor in woody plant control, you can read more on Fire Frequency in the Fire Effects section.
- Can fire be beneficial to white-tailed deer?
- White-tailed deer utilize burned areas, you can read more about white-tailed deer in the Fire Effects section.
- Is fire important to Bobwhite Quail?
- Fire can be important to many aspects of Bobwhite Quail habitat, you can learn more about Bobwhite Quail in the Fire Effects section
- What is the difference between sprouting and non-sprouting plants?
- Plant response to fire can be divided into these two categories, you can read more on Fire Effects on Major Trees and Shrubs in the Fire Effects section.
- Under what weather conditions should I burn?
- This will depend on goals, experience, fuel load and several other factors, for more information visit the Prescribed Fire Weather section.
- When is the best time of year to burn?
- Burning does not have to limited to a single season of the year, read more on this in the Prescribed Fire Weather section under Burn Days.
- What is fuel moisture?
- This is the amount of moisture in a specific size fuel particle, read how to determine fuel moisture and more in the Fuel Moisture section.
- What is a burn plan?
- It is the written goals, prescription, equipment needed, crew needed, smoke management plan and several other items needed to safely conduct the burn. More information is available in the Fire Law/Fire Plans section, under Burn Plans.
- What type of clothing should you wear while burning?
- Different types of nonflammable clothing can be used, more details are available in the Prescribed Fire Safety section.
- What is a firebreak?
- A firebreak helps to delineate the burn unit, reduce fuel along the edge, as well as contributing to several other important elements. A more complete discussion is available in the Firebreaks section.
- What type of firebreaks work the best?
- This will depend upon the weather conditions, fuels, and many other factors. You can read about the various types firebreaks in the Firebreaks section under Firebreak Types.
- What fuel mix should be used in a drip torch?
- A typical mix is 50:50 gasoline to diesel, but this can vary with weather conditions. More details are available in Prescribed Fire Equipment section under Drip torch.
- What is a prescribed burn association?
- This is a group of landowners work together to help each other burn. The Prescribed Burn Associations section has more details.