MDC hosting prescribed fire workshops in Moniteau, Montgomery, and Osage counties

Learn about methods and techniques for safely implementing controlled burns.

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Fire has been used as a land management tool by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for more than 30 years, but it isn’t as simple as dropping a match and watching it burn. To assist landowners who want to use prescribed fire on their own property, the MDC is hosting workshops in three Mid-Missouri counties. Each program will cover all aspects of how prescribed fire can be safely used to

The careful use of prescribed fire can actually
 improve your land's health,
as well as protect life and property.

benefit wildlife and people.

The FREE workshops will be held in the following counties:

• Osage—Friday, Feb. 27, from 9 to 3 p.m., Linn Fire Protection District Station 1, 210 West Main St., Linn. Registration required by Feb. 23. A brown bag lunch will be provided for registered participants. Weather permitting, a small demonstration burn will be held to give participants hands-on experience. Participants are encouraged to bring leather work boots, gloves and clothing that covers arms and legs. For questions or to register, contact MDC Private Land Conservationist (PLC) Seth Barrioz at 573-897-3797, ext. 116.
• Moniteau—Monday, Mar. 9, from 6 to 9 p.m., California City Hall, 500 South Oak St., California. Registration required by Mar. 5. For questions or to register, contact MDC Private Land Conservationist (PLC) Eric Niemeyer at 573-796-0286.
• Montgomery—Saturday, Mar. 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dale Deeker farm, near New Florence. Registration required by Mar. 12. Weather permitting, a small demonstration burn will be held to give participants hands-on experience. Participants are encouraged to bring leather work boots, gloves and clothing that covers arms and legs. For questions or to register, contact MDC Private Land Conservationist (PLC) Jamie Barton at 573-564-3715, ext. 110.

MDC staff will discuss the history of fire on the landscape, benefits from prescribed fire, proper methods and techniques for implementing controlled burns, equipment, and how to use resources from MDC and other agencies. Additionally, other topics that will be covered include creating a burn plan and timing the burn based on your management objectives and landscape, safety considerations, and proper weather conditions for conducting a burn.

To learn more about the benefits of prescribed burns, visit mdc.mo.gov.

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• MDC workshop shows prescribed fire as land, wildlife management tool (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
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• Fire and Water: Primal Forces Shaping CREW Wildlife Habitats (crewtrust.org)