Nat Smith Cattail Marsh Prescribed Burn, Edmunds Division, Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge,Washington County, Maine; May 24, 2007; Photo taken by Maurice Mills, Jr.

Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge's Fire Program had a busy start to the 2007 fire season. To date a total of 33.3 acres of prescribed burning in several fuel types have been completed. Grass fields, blueberry barrens, red pine stands and cattail marshes are periodically burned to improve wildlife habitat.

On May 24 fire staff from Sunkhaze Meadows NWR joined Moosehorn staff to complete a burn of cattail in the Nat Smith Marsh on the Edmunds Division near Dennys Bay. The purpose of the burn was to reduce the amount of cattail and increase openings as well as the diversity of plants in the marsh. Once the burn was completed biological and maintenance staff worked to re-flood the marsh to further stress re-generating cattail.

Moosehorn's Fire Staff also provided assistance with prescribed fire programs at Massasoit NWR in Massachusetts, Maine Coastal Islands at Petit Manan Island and Point, and East Brothers Island near Roque Bluffs, Maine.

On the afternoon of May 8 the Moosehorn Refuge office received a report of a wildland fire approximately 100 yards from the Baring Wilderness Boundary. The fire was quickly extinguished and investigated by forestry technician Brandon Harriman.

Refuge staff also assisted the Maine Forest Service with suppression of the Ash Landing Fire on Sunkhaze Meadows NWR in Milford, Maine, and the Summit fire, which was located in a remote area of the state with limited access. Refuge staff assisted with the transportation and operation of specialized fire equipment, including a skidder and tracked vehicle.

Forestry Technician Wes Hatch served a three week detail, with Moosehorn's Type VI engine, on the Sweat Farm Road Fire near the Okeefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia.

Moosehorn NWR's fire staff also provided the required annual fire refresher training to personnel stationed at Moosehorn, Maine Coastal Islands, and Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuges, as well as the Passamaquoddy Forestry Department at Indian Township, Maine.