You probably have noticed an abundance of smoke in our atmosphere. No question about it, the recent drifting smoke can be attributed to controlled burns throughout our area. The smoke can be a real inconvenience, but did you ever think about some of the positives to a controlled burn?

Reducing Fuels

The winter season is full of dead vegetation, and we all yearn for the spring just to see some green on the trees. Unfortunately, this dead plant matter becomes a dangerous fuel for fires, and controlled burns help to eliminate those fuels before a major forest fire starts.

Improving Wildlife & Vegetation

Burning promotes seed germination, flowering, and resprouting of fire-adaptive native plants. This also helps to improve the overall habitat. New growth after a fire produces more nutritious and palatable tasting plants to animals. Fires also promote flower, seed, and fruit production. Burning different areas at different intervals and in different seasons produces a diversity of landscapes, animal food, and cover sources.

Of course, burning can be a nuisance when it comes to the smoke in the atmosphere, but the long term benefits to the environment and to our safety easily outweigh the smokey sky.