This year the Bernheim natural areas department, with help from staff and select volunteers, completed 18 separate controlled burns. That’s a new record for Bernheim and a grueling task for the burn team. The burn season, which typically runs from mid-April to mid-May, got off to a slow start because of weather conditions but things finished up in grand style.
The first burn was conducted on March 21 and the last fire was completed on April 15th. In just 11 total days the team finished 18 burns totaling 82.49 acres. Burns were conducted in ten grassland units, seven grassland/forest units, and one forest only unit.
Controlled burns are used as one of the land management tools to help keep Bernheim ecologically healthy. Hats off to burn team leader Rick Caldwell and the entire burn team for another great year. 