Prescribed burns set to begin on 12,000 acres west of Stillwater
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Oklahoma State University is set to begin prescribed burns over 12,000 acres west of Stillwater. The burns are the second step in OSU’s ongoing plan to rid the area of the extremely invasive and problematic Eastern red cedars.
Considered a world leader in fire ecology and land management practices, OSU began the project in 2010 by clearing cedars from 5,000 acres. OSU researchers within the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources have spent many years testing the impacts of prescribed fire on the landscape.
“These burns are necessary for several reasons. First is to clean up the debris left by the cutting and mulching operations on these lands,” said John Weir, fire ecology research assistant. “Second is to keep those problematic cedars from coming back.”
Whenever cedar is removed from the land it needs to be kept in check by periodic fire.
“If you don’t burn, the cedars will be back just as bad as before in just a few years,” he said. “Fire was what historically kept cedar confined to the major river drainages and other areas where intense fire could not get to them.”
The prescribed burns will take place over a two-year period and will be conducted by fire teams hired by OSU. Chloeta Fire and Global Frontline Solutions, using the practices and methods supported by the university, will conduct the actual burns.
OSU has notified fire departments in Stillwater and surrounding areas of the prescribed burns and also will communicate with local emergency and dispatch agencies, along with affected residents and landowners.
“There’s a great chance those traveling on Highway 51 or I-35, or living in close proximity to the area, will see some smoke during the prescribed burns,” Weir said.
The fires will vary greatly in size, with the largest section marked for over 1,600 acres and the smallest, just two acres. These fires may cause the land to look different at first, but the benefits of these prescribed burns will be long lasting. Not only will it reduce and control the cedar in the area, but also it will improve wildlife habitat and abundance.
“The fire will enhance the native plant community that is present, making the prairies and the post oak and blackjack oak forest more productive and healthy,” Weir said. “The fires also will help reduce the extreme impacts wildfires can have on the area and surrounding property. By reducing the amount of fuel and the volatility of fuels like cedar, wildfires in these areas will be less of a problem and safer for firefighters to contain if they do occur.”
Depending on weather conditions, the prescribed burns could begin as early as the week of January 19, 2015. The burns will begin in and around the Lake Carl Blackwell area. All updates regarding the prescribed burns can be found by going to safety.okstate.edu and clicking on the “prescribed burns” icon or following @okstatesafety on Twitter.