2008 Federal Duck Stamp Contest Phone: 763-389-3323 |
Fire Management
 |
Prescribed Burning at Sherburne NWR using a helitorch for ignition. |
The fire program at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) focus' on prescribed burning for habitat and wildlife management and wildfire control. The main reason for conducting prescribed burning at Sherburne NWR is to restore and maintain a healthy Refuge ecosystem,as well as fuel reduction for wildfire management. Prescribed burning consumes dead vegetative fuels under controlled conditions, reducing the wildland fuel load. Reducing these fuel loads under controlled conditions facilitates the suppression of wildfires, should they start. This is particularly important at Sherburne NWR, because the Refuge lies in an area that has a lot of residential development (wildland/urban interface).
Primary detection of wildfires on the Refuge is provided by the Department of Natural Resources. There is a fire tower south of the Refuge in the Sand Dunes State Forest that is always staffed during periods of high fire danger. DNR fire detection
aircraft also fly over the Refuge regularly
during these times.
For more information on wildfires, prescribed fire, and current burning restrictions in Minnesota, see the Minnesota Wildfire Information Center at: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/index.html
