Et cetera : NCCC Team Performs Restorative Burns in Wisconsin

Maple 1 after completing a day of field training to become type 2 wildland firefighters

By: Steven Pisacrita

AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) team Maple 1 is serving with the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Necedah, Wisconsin. Their goal is to perform prescribed burns to between 2,500-5,000 acres of land in order to restore wild lupine, a plant that is necessary for the survival of the endangered Karner blue butterfly. The team is doing maintenance projects with the fire management program, as well as engaging in public educational activities at the refuge.

A typical day for Maple 1 begins with performing engine checks on all of the vehicles and water pumps at the fire management station. They check a comprehensive list of qualifications to ensure that the vehicles are ready for use: fuel and oil levels, tire pressure, mirrors, emergency lights, air filters, as well as all the specific equipment used on the fire line (such as hand tools, chain saws, and drip torches). After the vehicles are checked, the team attends a briefing about the current weather conditions and participates in a conversation about a different element of fire safety with the Necedah NWR staff. If the weather allows, Maple 1 sets out to perform a prescribed burn. The tasks on a prescribed burn include: measuring and reporting hourly on the weather conditions, using a drip torch to ignite the fuel in the area, and controlling the water pump and assisting in “mop up” procedures after the fire is complete.

“I’m so grateful for this opportunity to learn about how burning can actually help the environment when done correctly,” says NCCC member Dedrick Chamblin from Birmingham, Alabama. “It’s eye-opening!”