Prescribed burns WAS 2019 - 
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Prescribed burns integrate dynamics of the weather such as wind conditions, humidity,  temperature, the vegetation (biomass) ,  topography,  terrain, the tools, the people, and time of day and season.  As we build in more experience in our prescribed burn the creative potential continues to emerge.   It takes some planning and strategy to craft the photographic opportunities since being in control of the burn takes focus but it also allows for an intimate connection to the creation of the images.  

As a creative medium the burns eliminate the gap between creative production and the rehabilitation of the land.  Burns are a re-creation of human practices over thousands of years that helped "naturalized" the prairie in places it would not have existed.  Reconnecting to the environmental history and larger context of place is an on-going inquiry spurred on by the reintroduction of fire to WAS.
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GPS tracking of the drip torch.  The path tracks the lighting of the fire line

Lower prairie burn 11/19/19   (w/Adrian)

Prep 12:30 am - 2:00pm

Burn mix 50/50  (3 gallons)
Blowers 
4x4  - Tank sprayer (100 gallons) 
ATV  - (15 gallon tank))
Hand tools
Personal gear

Lower Field - 8 acres   
2:10pm  / 5:20pm

Start temp 57
Finish temp 55

Start  wind 11mph from southeast gusting to 16mph
Finish wind  gusting to 2mph south (slightly east)  gusting to 2mph

Start humidity 39
Finish humidity 55
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First fall burn at WAS -  11/09/19

Prep 6:30 am - 10:10am

Burn mix 50/50  (3 gallons)
Blowers 
Tank sprayer (100 gallons)  (replacement want needed for 15 gallon tank))
ATV
4x4
Hand tools
Personal gear

River Field -  11 acres   
10:10 am  / 4:20pm

Start temp 48
Finish temp 61

Start  wind 9mph from west (slight north)  gusting to 14mph
Finish wind  gusting to 5mph  west (slightly south)  gusting to 8mph

Start humidity 50
Finish humidity 37
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WAS 06/24/.19  -  New growth in burn field II from this spring.  Including a nice find of rattlesnake master (not included in original planting from 4 years ago)  

Three weeks post burn the grasses are green and the  junipers are toast (sorry junipers)
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                                                                                                                        image credit - Devin Walker
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Lighting one of the strips during evening burn   (credit - Devin Walker) 
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 (Burning in strips  (back burning  and head fire burning)  wind primarily coming from south/southwest but also affected by topography.  The center firebreak is at the crest of the hill so the west and east sides of the fireline moved in different pace and direction. 
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WAS 05/04/19   Devin Walker managing the flank on back corner of upper prairie 8:00pm..  Wind migrating from south  at 4 to 5mph  with almost no gusts led to high quality burn with lots of fuel still mixed in the new growth.  With small crew strip burns allow for control but also maintain some progress in timely fashion.  

Evening burn

Start temp 68
Finish temp 56

Wind 4-5mph from south gusting to 7mph  

Start humidity 40
Finish humidity 66

Afternoon burn

Start temp 70
Finish temp 71

Wind 3mph from south gusting to 9mph

Start humidity 40
Finish humidity 40

New growth post burn from on 04/13/19  (05/03/19)  

We are planning one more spring (late) burn today.  Conditions seem to be favorable and interesting to see results from the burns spread over three different times.   Start time today roughly 2:30.  
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Afternoon burn

Start temp 67
Finish temp 72

Wind 5-12mph from south/southeast gusting to 18mph

Start humidity 29
Finish humidity 30

Planning for burn on 4/20/19

Tracking the forecast has led to greatly improved opportunity from yesterday's to today's outlook for Saturday.    

​No precipitation all day
6am starting out at a cool 37 degrees 70% humidity  but rising to 74 by early evening. and dropping to 38% humidity.  Wind light from the south and southwest starting at 4mph up to 12mph.  Gusts picking up throughout the day but starting building to mid-teens by sunset.  

We plan to start early around 7am with an upper prairie burn.  

GPS tracking of about 80% (battery died)of the burn on 4/13 (K. Lair)  

We ran the upper burn entirely as a back burn. It was slow moving with great conditions and strong firebreak at the head.

Antlers exposed from the burn

Great fire skills by Eric Wessels on the drip torch (also two kinds of sprayers and shovel) and co-burn boss. 

Evening burn

Start temp 48
Finish temp 41

Wind 8-5mph from south gusting to 10mph  

Start humidity 38
Finish humidity 58

Afternoon burn

Start temp 70
Finish temp 71

Wind 9mph from northeast gusting to 17mph

Start humidity 42
Finish humidity 38

(left) Lower prairie burn mid-afternoon  (right)  upper prairie sunset

WAS - 04/13/19   Upper prairie burn (4)  
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We are targeting three fields for our spring burn on April 13th and 14th.  Starting early afternoon on Saturday we will start on about 70 acres. 

Please note that weather and the complexity of the burn requires a flexibility on timing.  We hope to start burning at 2 pm on the upper field.  The fall back of a delayed (or advanced) or canceled burn is merely a great hike in around outdoors.  The upper field is 8 to 15 minutes walk from the upper entrance to WAS.  Please park by the trailers or better is along the road there as we plan to burn that field later.  There is a creek crossing (fairly small but still)  and general outdoor conditions to be prepared for if you join us.  If you take pictures we love if you will share with us too.

Cellphone reception is unreliable at WAS so late notices or contact may not be possible.  We do our best as  we like to have helpers and just share in the watching of the event but within our capacity.  

Contact us for more info.  
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Burn plan -  Starting upper field with section 1