Starting the week of October 10th, Hardin County’s IRVM Department will be conducting prescribed burns throughout the county. The burns will be done as weather and site conditions permit, during the month of October, by the IRVM staff who are certified in wildland firefighting. Prescribed fires are conducted under a strict and predetermined set of parameters that include temperature, windspeed and direction, relative humidity, current and expected forecast and fuel conditions. Before burning, the roadside manager ensures that all the parameters are within their prescribed ranges so the fire can be conducted safely and the objectives can be met. The purpose of prescribed fire is to help maintain and improve wildlife habitat and native plant communities that have been planted in the county right-of-way.
Fire is a natural ecological process in Iowa, and is used to simulate the historic fires that burned naturally or were set intentionally by Native Americans. In addition to using prescribed fire to restore all natural process, they are an important tool for stimulate native vegetation growth and seed production, improve wildlife habitat and provide valuable opportunities for training and scientific research, managing invasive species, and reducing wildfire dangers. Many of the plants and animals of Iowa’s prairies are fire adapted. They need periodic fires to thrive.
Hardin County’s Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management department protects and maintains over 6,000 acres of roadsides spread over 2,000 miles of county roads.
Questions? Contact Megan Dohrman, Roadside Vegetation Manager, at 641-849-0333 or by email.
