Navy Controls Burn, Improves Ecosystem
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS090220-10
Release Date: 2/20/2009 1:33:00 PM
By Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Apprentice Adam Thomas, Naval Air Station Jacksonville Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Air Station (NAS) Facilities and Environmental Department conducted its controlled burn Feb. 1 to prevent wildfires at the Outlying Field (OLF) White House.
OLF White House is a 2,000-acre auxiliary installation used by the Navy to practice aircraft carrier landings and search and rescue missions located approximately 10 miles west of NAS Jacksonville.
The surrounding pine forest floor is covered in a thick growth of underbrush consisting of pine needles, saw palmettos and dead foliage. If this dense under-growth is not cleared it could become a wildfire hazard.
NAS Facilities and Environmental Department Forester Will Henry keeps a close watch on the wooded areas around NAS Jacksonville and OLF White House. Every year, Henry sets some of these areas ablaze — but don't call him a pyromaniac.
"I don't want people to think we're just out here because we like starting fires. A year's worth of planning takes place before a single bit of brush is ignited," said Henry.
Foresters first determine which areas would benefit most from a controlled burn. Once an area is chosen, a detailed plan is submitted to the Florida Division of Forestry for approval. Upon approval, many preparations must be taken before the burn can take place.
Break lines (roads in many cases or plowed lines) that prevent flames from spreading to other areas must be made so only the chosen section burns.
The National Weather Service provides a forecast for the proposed date, predicting wind conditions to assure that smoke generated will safely dissipate and not be carried towards the city or other populated areas.
When the conditions are right and all preparations are complete, the fire can be set. The fire is first lit downwind to minimize the height of flames. This also keeps the fire from moving forward too quickly and getting out of hand.
Specially trained crews with equipment from the U.S. Forestry Service and firefighters from NAS Jacksonville monitor the fire while it burns to ensure that it doesn't jump the fire lines. Once the fire has burned out firefighters check the area for hot spots that could reignite.
The periodic controlled burn of an area is necessary and extremely beneficial to the local ecosystem. The burned-out forest floor is rich with nutrients for the trees. It also exposes many insects to the surface, which attracts birds to the area along with other larger animals in the food chain. And the pine forest that surrounds OLF Whitehouse will continue to flourish due to the carefully planned burn.
For more news from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, visit www.navy.mil/local/nasjax/.
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