Let's Burn our Highway!

Controlled burning of woodlands in North Florida and South Georgia has been practiced since the time of the indians. The indians found that when the underbrush is routinely burned, the woods are protected from many things such as forest fires. The practice of burning was stopped earlier last century by the government before they had a better understanding of the benefits to the environment.

Kate Ireland, a local plantation owner and conservationist, understands the benefits of controlled burning. She has worked with numerous agencies and conservation groups to insure that our local environment is protected and enhanced by controlled burning. She has been a mighty leader in this cause. We'll talk more about Kate Ireland in a moment, but first, let's talk a little more about controlled or prescribed burns.

Controlled burns are highly regulated. In many cases, the people conducting the burns must be certified. In the best of cases, local authorities determine when the conditions are suitable for a burn. Preparation for a burn is of key importance. Crews are typically equipped with a torch to light the underbrush, hoes, rakes, and water packs. Sections of the woods are divided with fire breaks. The goal is to burn a section of land from fire break to fire break.

In a controlled burn, a safe area is set aside for local wildlife. Birds fly to safety. Snakes, deer, and other wildlife simply walk to safety. Within just a few days of the burn, new green growth can be seen on the forest floor. Within a few months, the forest springs to life with the new growth of spring. The ash from the burned matter acts as a fertilizer to promote the health of the woods.

....Now back to Kate Ireland. Kate Ireland is largely responsible for the wide beautiful median on HWY 319 north of Tallahassee. She worked to convince landowners to grant an easement for the new wider highway. Her goal was to insure that the median reflected the eco-system in North Florida and South Georgia. To achieve this goal, she donated land contingent upon the right to burn the median. Soon we shall see the median burned in a controlled, safe manner. Thanks to her efforts, even the median on our highway will be able to experience the same biodiversity of even the most prestigious plantations. We may well have the only highway that practices prescribed burns. Better to lead than to follow!

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