Georgia Forestry Commission
5645 Riggins Mill Road
Dry Branch, Georgia 31020
1-800-GATREES or (478) 751-3500

USDA Forest Service Southern Region,
February 1989; Technical Publication R8-TP 11

PURPOSE

TIME OF BURN

SIZE OF BURN

TYPE OF FIRE

FREQUENCY

REMARKS

REDUCE FIRES

Winter

Large enough to break fuel continuity

Not critical. Do not ring fire

2 to 4 years

Use line-backing fire, or point-source fires under moist conditions for initial burn. Grid-firing technique excellent for maintenance of burns

IMPROVE WILDLIFE HABITAT

       

General - Protect transitional or fringe areas. Do not burn stream bottoms.

Deer

Winter preferred

Small or leave unburned areas

Backing fire or point-source fires

2 to 4 years

Want to promote sprouting and keep browse within reach. Repeat summer fires may kill some rootstocks.

Turkey

Winter preferred; summer burns in July - August

Small or leave unburned areas

Backing fire or point-source fires

2 to 4 years

Avoid April through June nesting season.

Quail

Late Winter

25+ acres

Not critical. Do not ring fire

1 to 2 years

Avoid April through June nesting season. Leave unburned patches and thickets.

Dove

Winter

Not critical

Not critical. Do not ring fire

Not critical

leave unburned patches and thickets.

Waterfowl

Late fall or winter

Not critical

Heading fire

2+ years

Marshland only. Do not burn in hardwood swamps.

CONTROL COMPETING VEGETATION

Heavy roughs in winter, otherwise not critical

Not critical

Not critical. Do not ring fire

2 to 8 years

Summer burns result in higher rootstock kill and affect larger stems. Exclude fire from desirable hardwoods in pine-hardwood type.

IMPROVE FORAGE FOR GRAZING

Winter through late spring for most situations

Not critical but will be damaged by overuse if too small for herd.

Not critical. Do not ring fire

3 years

Split range and burn one-third each year. Individual herbs and grasses respond differently to fire and season of burn. Consult expert.

IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY

Will vary with understory and desired use

Varies with individual situation

Depends on amount of fuel present

As needed

Coordinate with other resource objectives. They will dictate size, timing and frequency of burn.

CONTROL DISEASE

Brownspot, winter

Depends on size of infected area. Include a buffer strip

Strip-heading or heading fire

2 to 3 years

Burn when humidity is above 5o%. Avoid leaving unburned pockets of infected seedlings within  or adjacent to burn.

ENHANCED APPEARANCE

Late fall through late winter

Varies with each situation

Backing fire or point-source fire

1+ years

Requires precise prescription to protect vegetative type changes. Know effect of fire frequency and season of burn on both annual an biennial flowering plants. Provide pleasing visual lines.

PERPETUATE FIRE DEPENDENT SPECIES

Will vary with species

Will vary but usually fairly small

Will vary with fuel conditions and species requirements

Will vary with species

Fire intensity, timing and frequency all dictated by species requirements.

YOUNG PINE STANDS

Winter

Varies with size of stand

Backing fire

2 to 4 years

Pine diameter 3 inches or more at ground. Pine height above 10 ft. Burn only after a strong cold front with rain.

DISPOSE OF LOGGING DEBRIS

Not critical

Small areas mean fewer nighttime smoke problems

Center firing with helitorch preferred

 _ _

Smoke management is a must! Take care not to damage soil or water resources with these hot fires. If a broadcast burn will not meet objectives, pile - do not windrow debris.

PREPARE SITES FOR SEEDING

Natural seeding, summer to early fall prior to seed fall.

Large enough to prevent concentrations of birds & rodents (usually 10 acres of more.)

Not critical. Do not ring fire

_ _

Be careful not to kill seed trees. If logging debris present, manage your smoke.

 

Direct seeding, fall to late winter for spring sowing of longleaf

Large enough to prevent concentration of birds & rodents (usually 10 acres or more)

Not critical. Center firing with helitorch preferred if slash present

_ _

If logging debris present, smoke management is a must! Take care not to damage soil or water resources with these hot fires.

PREPARE SITES FOR PLANTING

Growing season for hardwood control

large enough to prevent concentrations of birds & rodents (usually 10 acres or more)

Not critical. Central firing with helitorch preferred if slash present.

_ _

If logging debris present, smoke management is a must! Take care not to damage soil or water resources with these hot fires.



Copyright © Georgia Forestry Commission 1998-2003. All rights reserved.