Time
of Year
In
the Northern Great Plains area, prescribed burns and wildfires usually
occur in late winter, spring, late summer, or fall. In the winter, due
to the ice and snow, the moisture content in the vegetation is too
high
and the temperatures are too low. After "green-up" in early
May, the grasses and other herbaceous plants sprout. These live plants
have a very high moisture content and inhibit the spread of fire, making
prescribed fires in the spring and early summer difficult or impossible.
If late summer brings hot, dry weather, prescribed fires could be possible
in prairie areas in August and September. Fall burns can be done after
the grasses are frost-killed and dried. This fall "window" usually
begins in late September or early October and lasts 2-8 weeks until
the
onset of winter precludes any fires until the weather warms up again
in the late winter or early spring.
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