News  A new view of prescribed fire

This spring, MassWildlife safely conducted 17 prescribed fires across the Commonwealth. Over 560 acres within our Wildlife Management Areas have received fire management thus far, from the ridgetop heaths of Leyden Wildlife Management Area to the coastal grasslands of Penikese Island Sanctuary. As part of a pilot project approved by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, MassWildlife was able to utilize an exciting new tool this year to monitor and inform our habitat management. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (also known as UAS or drone technology) provide high-resolution imagery which allows us to monitor habitat conditions before, during, and after prescribed fire events. The multi-rotor UAV used looks similar to a helicopter with multiple rotors, allowing for easy take off and landing.  

UAS technology improves our situational awareness during a prescribed fire by using real-time videography and thermal imagery to understand where smoke, fire, and hot spots occur. The imagery produces very high-resolution georeferenced maps and photos of vegetation and landscape patterns. After a fire, MassWildlife is able to use the images to evaluate fire effects and revegetation to improve fire management practices and manage important habitat for wildlife over time. MassWildlife is fortunate to partner with the skilled licensed UAS pilots with the MassDOT Aeronautics Program to capture unique aerial views of prescribed fire and other pilot sites across Massachusetts where different habitat management and monitoring activities are taking place. This gives us the ability to quickly note changes in vegetation over time and document progress toward MassWildlife’s desired habitat management goals. The video clip above shows a prescribed fire conducted by MassWildlife in collaboration with our partners within DCR Fire District 9 and Montague Center Fire Department at Montague Plains Wildlife Management Area this spring. 

When appropriately timed and carried out, prescribed fires produce spectacular results in a variety of habitats; removing thatch or leaf litter, removing hazardous fuels, promoting warm season grasses and herbs and eliminating woody encroachment or undesirable plants. These improvements provide critical habitat for many targeted wildlife and fire-adapted plants.  

It has been a busy and successful spring prescribed fire season and we wish to thank MassWildlife’s skilled prescribed burn crew, as well as our many fire management partners including Mass DCR Bureau of Forest Fire Control, the National Park Service Cape Cod National Seashore, US Fish and Wildlife Service, local Fire Departments, the Franklin County Hand Crew, Americorps Cape Cod, Buzzards Bay Coalition, Mass Army National Guard, and other dedicated prescribed fire volunteers.  

While we have taken a short summer hiatus from burning to catch up on monitoring, reporting, and other important tasks, MassWildlife has many prescribed burns planned for late summer and fall.   

2021 Prescribed Fire Snapshots

Maritime grasslands prescribed fire at Penikese Island Sanctuary.

Early spring sandplain grassland prescribed fire at Frances Crane WMA in Falmouth.

Early spring pine and oak woodland prescribed fire at Frances Crane WMA in Falmouth.

Prescribed fire in heathland at Birch Hill WMA in Winchendon.

Woodland and grassland prescribed fire at Southwick WMA.

Woodland and grassland prescribed fire at Noquochoke WMA in Dartmouth.

Ridgetop heath prescribed fire at Leyden WMA.

Prescribed fire in oak forest at Leyden WMA.

Prescribed fire in oak woodland at Muddy Brook WMA in Hardwick.

Slow moving but highly effective late spring grassland burn at Herm Covey WMA in Belchertown.