Prescribed Fire
Though not the wild west, properties and homes in Ohio are not immune to the risks of fire and fire-related damage. Spring and fall are Ohio's primary "fire seasons". A step one should take to protect one's forest, and home if inside the woods, is to have a system of paths that may double as fire breaks. For the home site, maintain good access for fire vehicles, create a defensible space around your home and outbuildings by removing flammable materials such brush, leaves, sticks, and twigs; remove these from roofs and gutters too. Landscape around buildings with less flammable plants and materials, avoid evergreens by or near the home, keep an outdoor water source, and avoid outdoor burning. For more information on outdoor fire safety and fire safety around your home, Firewise brochures are available from the Ohio Division of Forestry (toll-free 877-247-8733). You may also contact your local fire department with questions about Firewise and home safety regarding wildfire.
Ohio Fire Laws
Ohio Fire Laws: ORC 1503.18 regarding kindled fires prohibits outdoor open burning statewide in unincorporated areas during the months of March, April, May, October, and November between the hours of 6:00 am and 6:00 pm. ORC 1503.18 is administered by the Ohio Division of Forestry; call toll-free 877-247-8733 with questions. OAC 3745.19 regarding outdoor burning is administered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); EPA notification is required for many types of open burns in Ohio. Call 614-644-2270 with questions, or visit www.epa.ohio.gov/dapc/general/openburning.aspx.
Fire Regime in Ohio
Since European settlers came to America, fire has been under-utilized. Additionally with the effective anti-fire campaign led by the Forest Service and Smokey (no middle name) Bear, the use of fire as a woodland management tool has become uncommon. Traditional fire regimes in Ohio used to be every 5-15 years. These fires would have been low intensity fires that mostly burned along the ground. The presence of fire in the ecosystem would help maintain oak trees in the ecosystem. When allowed to grow without fire, red maple will frequently grow in the same space as oak trees, and it will almost always out-compete those oak trees. However, if a ground fire is introduced to the ecosystem it will kill the tops of all of the seedlings, and the oak trees will grow back quickly and vigorously because of their extensive root systems. This effect can be replicated by removing undesirable trees and shrubs through cutting, pesticides, or a combination of the two if fire is unable to be used. Fire is trying to make a come-back in Ohio with a couple of private prescribed burn companies being created. The more landowners that get on board, the more people will see the benefits of fire and be less scared of it.
