From WOOD COUNTY PARK DISTRICT
Wood County Park District stewardship department is planning to conduct prescribed fires in several park properties this spring between the dates of March 1 through June 30. The locations of these burns may be in Baldwin Woods Preserve, Bradner Preserve and Cricket Frog Cove. The exact timing of the fires will be determined by weather factors to ensure the most effective and safe conditions, including smoke mitigation.
All of our prescribed fire practices are conducted under waiver through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, notification of the Ohio EPA, as well as, direct supervision by an Ohio Certified Prescribed Fire Manager. Local fire departments for each site are aware of these plans and will be directly notified at least 24 hours before the fire and also on the day of the fire by our fire manager.
The Park District recently received funding for new prescribed fire equipment through a grant distributed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ONDR).
The STEP Grant, which stands for Supplies, Tools, Education and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), is a passthrough grant. This grant will pass through the Wildfire Risk Reduction Funding to the U.S. Forest Service and then to ONDR to be granted to local agencies throughout the state. The grant is a 50/50 matching grant. This grant will cover 50 percent of equipment costs, up to $3,000, for select items purchased by WCPD.
ONDR distributes these funds with the goal of restoring and maintaining fire dependent ecosystems and to expand the use of prescribed fire as an integral tool.
With these funds, WCPD was able to purchase (2) 60 gal. UTV sprayers, a backpack blower, prescribed burn road signs, radio harnesses, water backpacks, handlamps, hand tools, and first-aid kits. All of these items will lead to better communications, better burn breaks, increased safety, and more efficient fire control in the upcoming prescribed fire seasons.
The purpose of the fires is for the benefit of the natural areas and native ecosystems. All fire management is completed with best management practices.
Call 419-575-7339, or email alowien@wcparks.org, with any questions directly involving our prescribed fire practices or call 419-353-1897 with general questions.
For more information about the parks and nature preserves in the Wood County Park District system, or about the public programs offered, please visit www.wcparks.org, download the free app ‘wcparks’, or call 419-353-1897.
