SHAN CAMMACK

WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST AND FIRE SAFETY OFFICER

- by Anna Yellin Shulimson

In nature, fire is sometimes destructive. Think of the wildfires you see in the news every year. What seldom makes the headlines, however, is that fire is also a natural phenomenon that has helped guide the evolution of plants and animals. Some people are actually using fire to restore wildlife and the places they need to live. As they do this, they are lessening the risk of catastrophic wildfires. These beneficial fires are called prescribed burns.

Shan Cammack knows all about controlling fire. She is a fire safety officer for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Cammack's responsibilities range from public safety to preserving Georgia's natural heritage. But her focus is restoring habitat for native wildlife by setting fires.

SO, WHAT IS APRESCRIBED BURN?

Prescribed burning is a safe way to apply the natural process of fire, ensure ecosystem health, and reduce the risk of wildfire. A prescribed burn is carried out by trained crews when the weather and fire fuel conditions are in “prescription.” We monitor things like temperature, relative humidity, and winds. Before we burn, we must follow what's written in our burn plan. This plan is essential. It's a written document that describes the site, our ecological objectives, key weather parameters, safety concerns, and the personnel and equipment we will need.

HOW DO PRESCRIBEDBURNS HELP?