MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – As we see the destructive power of wildfires in California, forestry experts say a controlled, intentional fire can actually be beneficial when it comes to keeping our forests safe and healthy. we spoke to those experts who explained why controlled burns are good for everyone.
Gathered in this conference room at the Northern Center are some of the greatest minds in land management who have come here to share their knowledge about intentionally setting fires. Mike Dueitt, a prescribed fire manager, explains the benefits of strategic, planned burns.
“So a prescribed burn is an intended action to intentionally set the woods on fire for the needs that the resource has. So a lot of times that’s just to reduce the brush and undergrowth that’s out there,” said Dueitt.
This practice can be used to eliminate invasive species.
“We have a lot of invasive species, and fire is a control for that,” explained Dueitt.
It explains how prescribed burns do so much more than create a fire break.
“Certain plants have needs. They don’t produce viable seeds if they’re not burned at the right time of year. Certain animals need fire to clear out their habitat and maintain good population numbers so that they can reproduce. So there are varied reasons that we do this,” said Dueitt.
Every year debris builds up on the forest floor. A planned burn is meant to clean that out.
“It’s that cleanup that all of us do in the spring, in our closets, or should, that we’re trying to do out there on the landscape to keep them healthy,” remarked Dueitt.
The fires in LA are an illustration of how fire can destroy lives. This workshop, however, is an example of how fire can maintain life.
