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Prairie Burn


“To rise, first you must burn.” ― Hiba Fatima Ahmad

In April, I had the unique opportunity of witnessing and photographing a prairie burn at Dorothy's Grange, 50 acres of upland prairie/savanna near Blanchardville Wisconsin. The majority of land at Dorothy's Grange is being managed and restored to the condition it was pre-settlement by owner, Steve Fabos.

Steve is also owner of Indigenous Restorations, LLC, which specializes in prairie restoration, oak savanna restoration and removal of invasive brush, trees, and weeds. In Steve's own words, "My work is trying to recreate the landscape to what it was like before European settlement. I like to say it is my attempt to heal the land."

Prescribed burns are performed on public and private lands throughout Wisconsin in the spring to restore and maintain native plant communities, improve wildlife habitat and control invasive plant species.

Some specific advantages of prescribed burns include:

  • Stimulating prairie grass growth and improving habitat for upland game and waterfowl;

  • Creating pockets of open water for waterfowl amidst cattails proliferating in low areas;

  • Improving cover type for upland nesting birds, such as pheasants, and spurring native vegetative growth for songbirds;

  • Helping preserve grassland, savanna, and many forest plant communities sustained by natural fires prior to intensive European settlement.

"A mighty flame followeth a tiny spark." - Dante Alighieri

Reasons to use fire

Without the use of prescribed burning as a management tool, Wisconsin could lose many of its native grassland, wetland, and woodland plant communities. For thousands of years, vast, sweeping wildfires, set primarily by Native Americans, were as much a part of the pre-settlement Wisconsin environment as rain, drought and the passing of the seasons. Because frequent fire played a significant role in the development of much of Wisconsin's native plant communities for thousands of years, many plant and animal species now depend on fire for their continued existence.

For example, prairie grasses and flowers develop deep roots and buds beneath the soil, enabling them to withstand the heat of a fire while shallow rooted invasive brush succumbs. In addition, our oak ecosystems rely on fire to remove accumulated leaf litter, dead trees and invading brush, maintaining the open character of oak savannas, and in general, keeping oak on the landscape.

Safety first!

Before any burn is conducted, experienced and trained personnel assess the area to determine the wind direction and speed, relative humidity, grass moisture and safety requirements. Qualified personnel control fire behavior through the use of comprehensive planning and specialized fire equipment.

Smoke Control

Smoke control is an important aspect of any prescribed burn plan. Prior to burning, experienced personnel carefully review the burn area and the proximity of houses, roads and other smoke sensitive areas. This information is then incorporated into the plan and the prescribed burn occurs when favorable conditions (e.g., wind) minimize the amount of smoke reaching these areas.

A big thank you to Steve Fabos, owner of Dorothy's Grange & Indigenous Restorations, for the education on this important work and for allowing me to get up close and personal with this well controlled and expertly performed prairie burn! It was a fascinating experience.

[Information credits: Indigenous Restorations, LLC and the Wisconsin DNR]

More Dorothy's Grange Posts:

You can check out more information about The Grange, located in Blanchardville, Wisconsin at: http://www.dorothysgrange.com

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