Green grass doesn't burn very well, so this was probably one of our less successful burns of 1996 year. Preparation There are extensive preparations before each burn. All staff and volunteers are trained, and burn plans are formulated for each site. Burn breaks are cut where needed. On the day of the burn, neighboring property owners and the city and township fire departments are notified.
Equipment is checked and the crew is briefed on the burn plan, including emergency procedures.
The picture at right shows us just starting to ignite. Catriona Mortell is standing in the center of the picture, holding a drip torch. This is a can full of gasoline and diesel oil with a handle on the side and a long tube sticking out the top. You can see the tip of it flaming to the left of Catriona. Watching her is the burn boss, Dave Bornemann.