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| News > Base plans controlled burn at Huffman Prairie |
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Fire fighters from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and neighboring Bath Township work with Ohio Department of Natural Resources wildlife officials to light part of Huffman Prairie in 2009. Base officials are planning another controlled burn sometime this month to help maintain and expand prairie vegetation and prevent the spread of invasive woody species. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Ted Theopolos)
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Base plans controlled burn at Huffman Prairie
Posted 1/10/2012 Updated 1/10/2012
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by Estella Holmes
88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
1/10/2012 - Wright Patterson Air Force Base -- The annual prairie burn, originally scheduled for this past November will take place today at approximately 1 p.m.
Base officials had to postpone the burn until favorable weather.
To be successful, very precise temperature, relative humidity, wind direction, wind speed and ground moisture conditions must be present. Some wind is needed to advance the burn, but too much and it can grow out of control according to Darryn Warner, Wright-Patterson's natural resources manager. The burns are typically accomplished in the fall season, in part because the ground is often too wet in the spring.
Today's mild weather conditions favor the conditions for a successful burn. The burn will create columns of smoke visible throughout the area.
About 50 acres of Huffman Prairie Flying Field will be burned in coordination with and under the watchful eyes of Forestry Division officials from Ohio's Department of Natural Resources. The last similar burn was accomplished in the fall of 2009, said Mr. Warner.
Base officials now plan to burn up to 50 percent of the prairie annually, if required, to restore the prairie to its original character and rid it of non-native plant species, Mr. Warner said. Huffman Prairie is southeast of Wright-Patterson's two runways. The Air Force oversees environmental protection for the lands, which include part of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.
Base firefighters will assist in planning and overseeing the burn, which will also serves as a training opportunity, said Dave Milhoan, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Fire Department's chief for training.
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