Prairie Fire!

Our volunteer crew had just left when Larry Shaffer called and said he's be right over to light our prairie on fire. It was late Sunday afternoon, and we'd been trying to get a fire going for weeks. We'd get everything arranged, and it would snow. Or rain. Or there would be high winds.

But suddenly the cndidtions were perfect, and Larry was on his way with a helper and some water-backpacks and other equipment. Michael got on the phone and called our neighbor Scott, who had his own burning equipment, and then they all headed out to start a fire.

Comrade Mao said it only took a spark to start a prairie fire. That's true. But conditions have to be right; that single spark does not ignite a wet prairie, or a green one either. Last week, the prairie remnant on the hill across from the house was way too wet to burn. Another week, and it would be too green to burn. There is a narrow window every spring when the prairies in Wisconsin can be burned. And then, everything depends on the weather. Mostly, it's been too wet for the fire to catch. Sunday, it seemed too windy to burn safely, but Larry is a pro, and we'd cut firebrakes that had passed DRN inspection.

So the fire was set. And hour later, the hill across from the house was black where the fire had charred off the brush. Prairie plants, which co-evolved with fire, have deep roots and will flourish if burns discourage invasive plants. Within a week, everything was greening up nicely. It did take only a single spark to light that prairie fire--a spark, and perfect conditions.