Granted, the fire truck is not a everyday item but, there are many different types of spray rigs out there that will serve as an adequate substitute. A reliable back pack sprayer would be a little more difficult to make. Inc. P.O. Box 8397 Jackson, MS 39284-8397 Sales Dept. Labor Labor is the most costly and variable item associated with prescribed burning. Topography and type of fire guard probably influence labor costs more than any other factor.
Areas surrounded by rivers, crop fields or roads are usually less expensive to burn.
On the other hand, areas containing rolling hills or steep slopes with timber usually require the mechanical or physical establishment of fire guards, thereby increasing the amount of labor and cost of the burn. The Coffey Ranch burns required a fairly substantial labor force to prepare fire guards. Topography in the burned areas consisted of steep slopes with fairly dense stands of timber. One and a half miles of open native grass areas were mowed. Because of the topography and odd shape of the burns, the time required to set the appropriate back fires and flank fires was increased.