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Sandhills Task Force Encourages Volunteer Fire Departments to Help with Prescribed Burns

Once again, the Sandhills Task Force is offering a Recognition Award for all Sandhills-based Volunteer Fire Departments (VFD) for the 2016 prescribed fire season. VFDs who assist private landowners with prescribed fire to control invasive plants species, primarily eastern red cedar trees, are eligible. Last year, the Sandhills Task Force provided donations to VFDs for seven prescribed burns on over 1,000 acres.

Prescribed fire is the most economical tool that can be used to control invasive plant species but some landowners feel they do not have the necessary protection to assure the fire does not escape. VFDs have equipment and volunteers that can help landowners safely conduct prescribed burns while simultaneously training VFD volunteers in use of equipment, fire behavior, fire weather implications, and more. Local VFDs are staffed by busy volunteers that donate large amounts of personal time in service to their communities and budgets are very tight. The Sandhills Task Force Board of Directors would like to recognize those VFDs who do assist in controlling tree invasion by the use of prescribed fire and encourage more VFDs to get involved.

Donations will be at the rate of $15 per burned acre, with a maximum payment of $6,000 per prescribed fire. A $6,000 maximum per VFD is established to spread the awards geographically. Participation is defined as providing at least one truck and two trained personnel on a prescribed fire in the sandhills. You can find more information and the form that a VFD needs to complete at http://www.sandhillstaskforce.org or by calling Shelly at 308-214-0065.



–Sandhills Task Force