During the spring, the woods can become especially dry until plants start sprouting. The wildfire danger goes up on particularly dry and windy days. No matter if it is a dry or wet spring, New York institutes a statewide outdoor burn ban that expires on May 14. 

This spring, precipitation has been sufficient to keep things wet enough most of the time, but there were a few dry periods with some instances of mostly small wildfires that had to be extinguished.

We think of the advice of the U.S. Forest Service’s Smokey the Bear, along with various state agencies when we are in forests, in order to avoid sparking a wildfire. But there are times when these same state agencies will intentionally kindle a fire in a forest or field. These are prescribed fires, also known as controlled burns.

Controlled burns are normally conducted to manage habitat on the targeted tract of land. The PA Game Commission lists its goals for prescribed burning on state game lands; one particular goal is listed on their site as follows: “Fire improves wildlife habitat and hunting opportunities by increasing soft mast production in shrubs like blueberry, huckleberry and blackberry.”

There are other habitat goals concerning birds or other wildlife, but one important reason would be to reduce the fuel load (dead standing or fallen trees or other dead vegetation) in a managed, controlled manner rather than having it burn more severely in an uncontrolled wildfire.

It takes a lot of work to properly plan and conduct a prescribed burn, and conditions have to be right before the burn can be started. Surveys are performed for endangered species and other species of concern. The burn is planned depending on what is to be accomplished by doing the burn. 

Most prescribed burning takes place during the spring, but a few are planned for a little later in the season. To see what is involved in a prescribed burn, visit the PGC prescribed Fire Information site at www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc/habitat-management/prescribedfire.