Prescribed Fire

Prescribed fire is an effective tool for managing ecosystem health, improving wildlife habitats, preventing catastrophic wildfires, improves access and aesthetics, preparing sites for seeding or planting, controlling insects and disease, improving forage, and perpetuating fire dependent species. We use careful planning, specialized equipment, and trained personnel to deliver our prescribed fire clients a safe prescribed fire operation from start to finish.

We are fully trained in safe prescribed fire operations, certified in Maryland and Virginia (#480), and fully insured for prescribed fire implementation.

Contact us today for a free prescribed fire site evaluation!

Prescribed Fire Analysis

A full analysis of the proposed burn site. Weather conditions, land cover, soils, fuel types, loads, and conditions, required control lines, potential smoke sensitive areas,no fire areas, and potential hazards, are recorded on the initial site visit.

Fuel Modeling and Mapping

Sustainable Solutions provides clients with fuel mapping services that takes ground based fuel data and incorporates it into a GIS database that can be used to produce high quality fuel maps. These maps can be scaled from the small forest stand, to the landscape and regional levels. The fuel assessment data is then entered into a range of fire models used to determine fire behavior. Sustainable uses Behave 3.0 & FireMon for fire behavior and smoke modeling.

Fire Management Plans

A Fire Management Plan (FMP) details the specific ecologic and technical information needed to design and implement a fire management program at a site. A "site" can include geographic areas in a range of scales, from a single forest stand to a multi-owner landscape that is managed cooperatively.
A Fire Management Plan includes numerous maps of the location, the sites fire regime and condition class, the conservation targets, burn units, and any significant features that will affect fire management planning. Details of fire management implementation and burn execution are included in the Prescribed Fire Burn Plan.

The information needed for Fire Management Plans may vary considerably from one site to another. Writing a plan requires knowledge of a site’s fire characteristics, location, size and complexity, historic and current fire regimes, and fuel types.  A large, complex, multi-owner site will need a more detailed plan than a site with one owner and a single fuel type.

Fire Management Plans include the following elements:

1. Site Information
2. Fire Management Justification
3. Fire Management Goals
4. Fire Regime Proposal
5. Key Constraints
6. Smoke Management
7. Neighbor and Community Factors
8. Maps

Prescribed Fire (Rx) burn plans and permits

The written fire management plan includes: burn objectives, necessary weather and fuel conditions, firing techniques, anticipated fire behavior, fire line location and construction, smoke management, personnel requirements, local contacts for notification, and contingency plans. The plan also includes a GPS map showing all control lines, roads, drafting points, and safety zones. The completed plan is submitted to the State agencies for approval. Follow the link for an example of a prescribed burn plan done for The Nature Conservancy.

Site Preparation

This includes the preparation of necessary firelines, control measures, and fuel treatments. We install a variety of firelines for clients, including, hand-lines, mowed, disked, and plowed lines. All fireline construction follows Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics (M.I.S.T) guidelines. We also provide FireWise consultations on how to prepare sites, homes, and communities, to lower the risk of catastrophic wildfires.

Mechanical Fuel Reductions

We use low impact Forestry Mowers to mechanically reduce the structure and volume of fuels on a site. These mowers can be used to reduce heavy fuels in preparation of re-introducing a prescribed fire, or on sites where using fire isn't an option due to adverse conditions such as homes, smoke sensitive areas or power lines.

Fire Equipment

Prescribed fire requires proper tools, equipment, and training to have safe and effective burns. We have a Type 6 Wildland Engine equipped with a 400 gallon water tank, fire pump, and 200’ of booster hose. A Polaris Ranger with a 100 gallon tank, fire pump, and 100ft of hose is also used for additional holding capabilities. Additional fire equipment provided includes radios, portable pumps, fire hose lays, hand tools, drip torches, and road signage.

Fire Personnel

All of our firefighters are fully trained and certified based on the National Wildfire Coordination Group (NWCG) Wildland Fire Qualification System (PMS 301) and are equipped with all of the required personnel protective equipment (PPE).

NWCG and State training and certifications include:

• Virginia Certified Prescribed Burning Manager (certification #480)
• Maryland Certified Burn Boss
• I 100-ICS Orientation
• S130 Wildland Firefighter training
• S190-Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior
• S211-Portable Pumps and Water use
• S215-Wildland Fire in the Urban Interface
• S230-Single Resource Crew Boss
• S234-Ignition Operations
• S290- Fire Behavior
• Rx300-Prescribed Fire Burn Boss
• S390-Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations
• Southern Area Fire Engine Academy
• FireWise landscaping
• FireWise Firefighter safety

Ignition and Holding

We provide ignition and holding services to achieve the goals of the client while assuring safety remains the #1 priority. We use careful ignition patterns, wet-lines, and Class A foam-lines to enhance the safety of pre-established firelines. By following the plan, using the right equipment, and implementing proper fire techniques, we achieve client goals, without compromising site safety.

Post Burn Evaluation

A prescribed fire is only effective if it achieves pre-determined goals and objectives. We provide all of our prescribed fire clients with a written summary and evaluation of the burn. We use fuel transects, on site fire data, and photo points before and after the fire to capture the information needed to determine if the burn successfully achieved the goals of the clients.

Wildfire Threat Assessment

A full analysis of the proposed burn site. Weather conditions, land cover, soils, fuel types, loads, and conditions, required control lines, potential smoke sensitive areas, “no fire” areas, and potential hazards, are recorded on the initial site visit.

Contact us to learn about what Prescribed Fire can do for your land.