Page 46 - 2023MayJun

JENA DONNELL/ODWC fire according to the predetermined ignition
plan and to make sure the fire stays within the
burn unit.
“We’ve been assigned most of the western
and southern legs of this burn unit,” Barnes
said. “And Forest Service crew members —
including a few hotshot crews from as far away
as New Mexico, Colorado, and Montana — are
responsible for the northern and eastern legs.
“Once we get the edges blacked in, a
Forest Service helicopter crew will then fly
over the bulk of the unit and drop something
called Delayed Aerial Ignition Devices —
The 4,352-acre burn unit encompasses 3,430 acres of the which are basically flammable Ping-Pong-size
Wildlife Department’s McCurtain County Wilderness Area, balls — to ignite the bulk of the burn unit.
shown in green, and 922 acres of the Ouachita National
Forest, shown in pink. “The helicopter saves us a lot of time and lights fuel within the burn
unit’s roughest terrain,” Barnes said. “If it weren’t for the Forest Service
crew and their helicopter, we wouldn’t be able to burn like we do. It just
wouldn’t be possible.”

PRESCRIBED FIRE: CORNERSTONE OF MANAGEMENT
Scan this code to learn
For many people, the word “fire” is associated with destruction. But
more about the Wildlife
for those managing wildlife and habitat, fire is most often associated
Department’s McCurtain
with regrowth.
County Wilderness Area:
“So many of our wildlife species are adapted to and thrive with the
benefits of fire,” Barnes said. “Fire releases nutrients into the soil, pro-
motes plant growth, and creates a diverse and viable habitat for wildlife.
It’s all connected.”
JENA DONNELL/ODWC

Trees with nest or roost cavities used by red-cockaded woodpeckers are marked by white paint and are visited by biologists prior to a prescribed burn.
Leaves, pine needles, and other fuels have been raked away from a 3-foot radius of this cavity tree. A low-intensity fire was also lighted around the tree to
further protect it from any inadvertent damage of the larger prescribed burn.

44 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA