How to Conduct a Prescribed Burn

Planning and precautions are keys to safety.

- Chelsea Dinterman

Prescribed burns can be powerful tools for land management and livestock production. Improved forage quality, increased body condition scores for cows, and reduced invasive species populations are just a few of the benefits.

“There’s no chemical or mechanical treatment that mimics what fire does to the land,” said John Weir, senior Extension specialist for fire ecology at Oklahoma State University. “Fire impacts microorganisms in the soil, improves root and aboveground plant growth, and impacts things like insects and birds. It can have huge benefits.”

Reducing Risk

But without proper precautions, a prescribed burn can quickly turn disastrous. Last April’s Nebraska Plum Creek Fire, for example, started after a prescribed burn escaped containment. More than 6,600 acres were burned, and 45 cattle were killed, according to a Nebraska Examiner report.

In some cases, farmers are responsible for any damages caused by a prescribed burn gone wrong. Proper planning and preparation greatly reduce those risks.

“If you follow all the precautions — planning the burn, adequate breaks, adequate manpower, and adequate equipment — the risk goes way, way down,” Weir said. “But if you just wake up one morning and decide to burn, that risk jumps up dramatically.”

Make a Plan

Preparation for a prescribed burn should start well in advance, sometimes six months to a year out, Weir said.

Start with the location of the planned burn. Consider structures that need protection, as well as any potential volatile fuel sources — such as cedar trees — near the edge of the burn unit.