I have been involved in prescribed burns in prairies. Let me tell you, they are really amazing! We plowed a ring around the area, lit backfires to help contain it, raced across the grass towing a burning gas rag, and 25 of us (including the park rangers) watched as this wall of flame marched across the area fast as a man could run. A trick wind started blowing after we had started the thing, and we thought for a while it would get out of control. It was quite a thrill. Prairie and mixed grass/woodland areas are now being routinely burnt to preserve thier natural mix of plants. Smokey has a good idea, but in the hands of a pro fire is a good tool. -- Lawrence Lile Brendan Moran Sent by: pic microcontroller discussion list 08/22/02 02:25 PM Please respond to pic microcontroller discussion list To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU cc: Subject: Re: [OT]: Is GP fabricating Global Warming evidentiary material? -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 > > My memory of this is very hazy, and possibly inaccurate on > > several counts. However, I remember that there was once an > > instance of a large park (I forget where, but I think it was in > > the US) where the park rangers refused to let firefighters into > > the park. There is one quote that I do remember distinctly: > > News reporter: "But what about all the animals" > > Park spokesman: "They stampede." > > That is very interesting. Thank you for sharing that. I will try > and find more info on that at some later date. I've recovered some of the info. It was Elk Island National Park in Canada. And, now it is common to have controlled burns in Canada's parks. Here is an excerpt from a 1998 park warden's conference: "With excellent cooperation from the weather, two prescribed burns were conducted this spring. Good work Brent for the planning and coordination of two large, safe burn operations." Canada has some of the best forest fire fighting forces in the world, so it is a good place to test controlled burn situations. There is a page detailing why fires are necessary, and the ecology around fire at: http://parkscanada.pch.gc.ca/library/Fire/Fire_e.htm It's worth a quick read if it interests you. - --Brendan -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGPfreeware 6.5.8 for non-commercial use iQA/AwUBPWU6jwVk8xtQuK+BEQLLEACgnFK1Agwaef8TdSWqjb3hocVuZgYAn323 phFLTgRtb4UKqpGqNnOdO1LK =iIhQ -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.