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Money to Burn: A prescription for destructive fire on public land?
Environmental coalition calls for investigation, files complaints
June 24, 2009. For immediate release.
Contact: David Maywhoor: 614-487-9290, 614-738-0100 (c), david@buckeyeforestcouncil.org
Complete list of contacts and supporting documents below.
 In a telephone press conference Wednesday, a
coalition of citizens and environmental groups called on the Strickland
administration to “rein in Ohio Division of Forestry (ODOF) and conduct
a full public investigation of its disastrous prescribed burn program,
including April’s 2870-acre Shawnee Forest fire, and financial
incentives for DOF to burn.” The group explained in the phone
conference why such an investigation must examine:
- ODOF knowledge of and failure to heed extreme
fire danger conditions that indicated a high probability of their
prescribed burn escaping
- arson charges brought by ODOF during the fire, which the prosecutor has recommended be dropped
- site
preparations for the burn (permitted for 250 acres) that eventually
burned 2870 acres of Shawnee State Forest at great cost and danger to
people and property
- the link between federal fire money and ODOF activity, and
- fire impacts on Ohio forests, local economies, and public health.
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BFC Call To Action:
Buckeye Forest Council challenges DOF claims that prescribed burns are effective and necessary for oak regeneration. BFC challenges DOF claims that prescribed burns are necessary to prevent wildfires in Ohio's forests. Late spring fires are not natural in native Ohio ecosystems. They are destructive to the native flora; they have been found to increase rather than control invasives in southern Ohio forests; and they add to air pollution and warming. Burning is a primitive tool that is inappropriate for management of Ohio's deciduous forests in the 21st century. Fire is an appropriate tool to manage prairies, some of which exist on State lands, yet DOF burns vast areas of forest that do not contain prairies, from ridgetops to stream valleys.
Therefore BFC calls for a moratorium on prescribed burns until a public commission representing the academic and environmental communities can evaluate DOF policy and assess the circumstances under which burning is appropriate on DOF-controlled land.
Additionally we are suggesting the following better ways to use governmental funding to maintain the health and recreational value of our public forests:
- Money allocated for prescribed burns could more effectively be used for removal of invasive species and trail maintenance.
- DOF should work through the Recovery Conservation Corps (RCC) partnership, where Ohio Department of Natural Resources has already identified maintenance, repair and improvement projects. The RCC will establish work crews of young Ohioans, ages 16-24, who will work throughout Ohio's natural lands.
- Use federal stimulus dollars to build a volunteer civilian conservation corps to remove invasive species and perform trail maintenance over the long term.
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 On Sunday, February 24th the air was crisp and the skies were clear making perfect weather for a winter hike in The Hocking State Forest. This was the first Member and Friends Gathering in 2009 and brought with it good prospects for future Buckeye Forest Council hikes. 35 members and friends from central and southeast Ohio, and as far away as Toledo, Lucas, and Lucasville met at the shelter house at Ash Cave and after logistical instructions provided by hike leaders Paul Knoop and Mark Bailey, moved out in a caravan to the hike destination.
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