Controlled burn at Shuqualak

  • Published
  • By Frank Lockhart
  • 14th Civil Engineer Squadron
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The pine tree stands surrounding the auxiliary airfield at Shuqualak were burned April 1, 2017.

This was a controlled burn conducted by the US Forest Service through the Air Force Wildland Fire Center. Controlled burning is any fire intentionally ignited to meet specific land management objectives.

When used properly, controlled burning will help land stewards manage forests and rangelands for multiple uses. The base’s management goals were to reduce flammable fuels, restore ecosystem health and recycle nutrients to help produce a healthier timber stand. To manage the impacts from smoke, the burning was scheduled during favorable weather conditions and the amount of fuel and acreage burned was controlled.

Controlled burns also help manage against the threat of potential wildfires.
Wildfires usually occur during dry weather and are started by lighting or camp fires. These unplanned and often uncontrolled fires can pose serious threats to firefighters, public health and safety, as well as to air quality. The extended periods of smoke associated with uncontrolled fires can also cause serious health problems and significantly decrease visibility.

The controlled burn was a success and improvements to the surrounding habitat and environment can already be observed.