From the deck of an airboat, Chris Mursu fires a flare into a prescribed burn unit along Rice Lake. - USFW photo by Michelle McDowell

On October 27, 2005, Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge ignited two prescribed burns totaling 412 acres in order to reduce brush that was invading sedge meadows.  In order to meet prescribed personnel levels, the Rice Lake Refuge prescribed burn crew was augmented by a crew from Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge.