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2013 EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS ON NOW!42 FEBRUARY 21, 2013 | WWW.PRODUCER.COM | THE WESTERN PRODUCERNEWSFIRE | MANAGEMENTCo-ordination key to fighting prairie grass firesCommunity effort | Expert says that while intentions are good, firebreaks aren’t effective unless placed properlyBY BARB GLENLETHBRIDGE BUREAUFORT MACLEOD, Alta. — Out-ofcontrolgrass fires on the Prairiesbring immediate communityresponse. Often that includes farmerswho bring tillage equipment andcreate firebreaks to slow or stop thefire’s spread.But do those firebreaks really help?Not always, says Alberta governmentrangeland specialist KevinFrance.He told the Holding the Reins conferenceFeb. 13 that fireguards needto be properly placed to do any good,and that doesn’t often happen in thepanic that accompanies a raginggrass fire.“There is a role for strategicallyplaced fire guards, I will not arguethat,” he said.“The reality is, the fire that we dealwith in Alberta, they’re fueled bywinds of 80 to 100 km-h. Haphazardfireguards don’t work. Roads don’twork. Rivers don’t work. We needstrategic planning for where weshould be placing fireguards.”Southern Alberta has seen impressiveprairie grass fires in recent years.One of the most recent burned16,000 acres of grassland near MilkRiver, Alta., Sept. 10, 2012.Started by a combine, the fire waspushed by 100 km-h winds in dryconditions, 23 C heat and lowhumidity. It burned a swath 32kilometres long before it wasstopped, but not before it damagednumerous farm buildings, fencesand native prairie.Farmers responded to the blaze,some using tractors and tillageequipment to create firebreaks, butFrance said the fire was moving sofast that no one could get in front of itto establish a useful barrier.“I understand the fear component,”he said. “The emotional part, Iunderstand and appreciate.”Volunteer efforts to protect propertyare also commendable, but theywould be more useful in fire control ifthey were better co-ordinated, headded.“What I would like to see is someco-ordination among fire people andcounties in educating the public”about locations for firebreaks andstrategic back-burning, said France.After the fire, the bare ground andridges that are part of the firebreaksmust also be dealt with before theybecome ideal places for weedgrowth.France recommended that soilridges be rolled back into place assoon as possible.“That way it allows that seed bankand that soil contact to occur andHeavy winds can quickly fuel grass fires, meaning firebreaks must be carefully located to minimize damage. |FILE PHOTOnatural recovery should take place.”As for grass condition in the MilkRiver fire area, France said it showedsigns of regrowth in late fall butspring moisture will determine howquickly the land recovers.Power Rich FertilizerCan Add Significant Increasesin Yield and Returns!Example: Yield increases in lentils were as high as 5 bushelsto the acre and in peas results showed upwards of 8 bushelsto the acre! The yield increases were mainly due to a largerroot system with an increased amount of nodules. The micronutrients in the blend also play a large role in disease prevention.6 Months Interest FreeFinancing! o.a.c.“WE’RE CATCHING ON”Call your PowerRich area rep todayfor pricing and delivery details.1.800.663.4769Phone: (204) 786-5736 • Fax: (204) 783-9740www.powerrich.comMember of Agriculture Canada Quality Assurance Program