Prescribed Fire at Unionville Barrens

By Daniel Barringer.

Our crew assembled last Thursday to conduct a prescribed fire at the Unionville Barrens at Cheslen Preserve.

Preston Wilson ignites one side to create a black line, into which the rest of the fire will eventually burn. I didn’t take many photos since the fire activity kept us busy while it was going on, but below is the result: a savanna of grasslands will re-sprout with oak and cedar trees scattered throughout. Without the intervention of prescribed fire the unique habitat of the Serpentine Barrens would be lost.