Terra Shimek Range Tech DLWMD igniting Bay Lake RX burn DLWMD. - FWS photo by Steve Schumacher

Cory Henry Senior Fire Fighter (DLWMD) putting in wet line at the Flat Lake RX burn at Tamarac NWR. - FWS photo by Kurt Svendsgaard

Under burning pines on the Herfindal RX burn Tamarac NWR. - FWS photo by Steve Schumacher

End of a long day of prescribed burning at Winger Middle RX burn. - FWS photo by Steve Schumacher

Terry Snetsinger Range Tech DLWMD igniting Egg Lake pine under story burn at Tamarac NWR. - FWS photo by Kurt Svendsgaard

Jay Rude Range Tech DLWMD during ignition of the Boyer Lake RX burn. - FWS photo by Patrick Wagner

 The Detroit Lake Fire District which is comprised of 5 stations (Detroit Lakes WMD, Tamarac NWR, Hamden Slough NWR, Rydell NWR and Glacial Ridge NWR) had a very active spring fire season in 2007.  Drought conditions that had persisted since July 2006 continued through the winter of 2006/2007.  Given the lack of snow cover the Fire District was able to begin prescribed burns as early as  March.  The end of March brought 8 inches of snow and additional rain.  While it forced the curtailment of prescribed fire operations for 2 weeks it did give the soil some much needed moisture that allowed us to move out of drought conditions. Consistently good prescribed fire conditions prevailed in April and May.

Along with good prescribed burning weather came, adverse wildfire weather.  The Fire District was challenged by more active than normal wildfire occurrence.  Unusual wildfire events included the Doran Lake fire in March that destroyed a garage and the Squirrel Lake wildfire in May that was started by a lighting strike on a slash pile. During wildfire patrol in Polk County one of the FWS fire engines came upon a landowner that was franticly using his garden hose to hold a wildfire at bay.  The FWS engine boss contact 911 and requested the Fosston VFD.  The FWS engine assisted the landowner in protecting his home and barns until the fire department arrived and relieved them.

The curtailment of prescribed fire operations on May 11^th to support the Ham Lake fire and other fires in Minnesota reduced our possible RX fire accomplishment by 5-8 burns and 800-1,000 acres.  During this time period the stations of the fire district supported the suppression efforts by sending personnel and equipment to assist other agencies in the state.  The district also held back some resources to continue to provide initial attack capabilities for the Station of the fire district as well as local cooperators.  These resources were pre-positioned in a location that would provide timely wildfire response to USFWS, BIA, and DNR lands in Becker, Mahnomen, and Clearwater counties. The Fire District kept all five stations engaged throughout the spring. Cooperation by the managers of all stations serviced by the Fire District allowed us to allocate the resources needed to the various RX projects and wildfires that lead to this year’s successful fire season.