Prescribed Burn in Grassland Field at Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge; USFWS File Photo. May 6, 2005

American Woodcock, one of the species that benefits from early successional management; USFWS File Photo

Fire-qualified staff at the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge have completed four prescribed burns over the past week.  Weather conditions during much of this spring have been unfavorable for burning safely.  Several red-flag warnings have been issued by the National Weather Service this month.

Prescribed fire is used as a management tool to maintain and enhance wildlife habitat and to reduce fuel loading.  By reducing available fuels the chances of a catastrophic wildfire occurring are reduced.

The staff has burned several grass fields, one blueberry barren, and a unit composed of slash piles.  A total of 17-acres has been burned to date.  Additional burns are planned over the next few months in red pine stands and commercially harvested block cuts.

Moosehorn's fire fighters have also provided assistance to other refuge's in the northeast including Coastal Maine Islands, Sunkhaze Meadows and Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge's.  One detail involved assisting the National Park Service with a burn at Acadia National Park.

Refuge firefighters also responded to a small wildfire near a residence that is adjacent to refuge lands. Assistance was requested by local fire departments.