GRASS FIRES

Facts about grass burning:

• Grass burning is destructive & dangerous
• Within hours of snow melting, dead grass becomes flammable, especially if there have been drying winds
• Grass fires burn hot & fast & spread quickly around, & even over, patches of snow
• Grass burning does not control weeds, the weeds deposit their seeds into the surrounding soil in the fall; burning creates an ideal bare soil bed for the seeds to germinate
• Burning does not make the new grass greener; the new grass will be the same colour whether burning took place or not, it just appears greener due to the contrast against the bare, blackened ground
• Burning destroys the habitat of species you don't normally see such as mice, voles, as well as the nests of eggs & certain birds; if the fire gets out of control larger animals can be caught by the flames and many species will lose habitat
• It may take several years to replace lost habitat & for wildlife to return; vegetation is often multi-layered with higher growth protecting undergrowth. Different species depend on different layers for food or shelter. Loss of the lower layer and it's residents will impact species that prey upon those lost species.
• Spring burning is not good for the soil. Burning results in most of the old plants' nutrients going up in smoke or remaining in ask that is washed away. Burning also releases CO2 into the atmosphere. Ploughing old plants under, or allowing them to decompose, allows carbon & fertilizing elements to go back into the soil.
• If you light a fire, you are responsible for it. If your fire gets out of control you may be liable for the cost of fighting the fire, the destruction of others' property & face criminal penalties for violating burning regulations.