I could be way wrong on this, but…
- September 9th, 2009
- Posted in Uncategorized
- By Edie
- Write comment
I could be WAY wrong on this, but wasn’t the whole point of the prescribed burn at Big Meadow supposed to, like, clear the meadow?
If so, then FAIL.
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If I had to guess, based on the name, then yes: FAIL. Fire names, however, are usually taken from a prominent feature in the area, so if the area is known as “Big Meadow”, then that’s what the fire would be known as. Prescribed burns aren’t usually used to clear open areas like meadows, which recover fairly quickly after burning. They’re most often used to clear out underbrush in the forest proper, to promote the healthy growth of trees and to prevent large wildfires by reducing the fuel load in the forest.
In Yosemite, they also use fire to reduce forest encroachment on meadows; Also to reduce thatch, which can fuel uncontrollable grassland fires. The question I have is this: Was the intent of this prescribed fire to clear the meadow? Considering it was started at the edge farthest from residences, I’d say it was.
Fail in so many ways.
But two less-negative observations to temper the very real questions about who let this happen and why…
1. I’m glad to see that barn still standing! It is something I’ve been photographing for several years and I’m very happy to know that it will still be there!
2. As I drove to and from Tuolumne earlier this week I passed a number of areas where the still-smoldering fire had reached the road. In contrast to the historic fire that was so bad that it destroyed vast swathes of mature trees over a decade ago, most of the areas along the road appeared to indicate more of a “healthy fire” that burned out some (but not all) undergrowth and did not generally destroy mature trees.
Thanks for all your posts on this, Edie!
Dan