On behalf of the Maryland DNR-Forest Service, I would like to thank all the members of the team
who participated in all the warm season grass prescribed burns this spring. We accomplished burning for 12 landowners
in Washington and Frederick Counties. This includes 40 separate warm season grass fields for a total of 155 acres.
Without those members of the team who volunteered their time and skills to complete this task, the Maryland Forest Service
would not have accomplished nearly as much.
The objective of burning warm season grass every 3 years is
to kill woody competition and to remove old dead herbaceous plants in order to promote the new growth of warm
season grass for the enhancement of wildlife habitat. Warm season grass is great habitat for nesting birds such
as quail, doves, pheasants and turkey. It also provides cover for deer and other animals.
The other benefits of these prescribed
burns are that it gives firefighters first hand experience in fire behavior, ignition techniques and suppression tactics. This in turn benefits the firefighters, their local fire departments and the Maryland Forest Service in the
suppression of wildland fires that occur every year within the two counties and surrounding areas.
Thank you again for all of you who volunteer
your time and knowledge in this important service we provide to the citizens of Maryland. I look forward to working
with the team next spring on more prescribed burns.
