H.L. Ferguson Museum hires Star Tree Wildfire to manage a controlled burn with the participation of members of the Fishers Island Fire Department  

March 2025
By H.L. Ferguson Museum Board Member Genie McPherson Trevor

Middle Farms presents a unique ecosystem on Fishers Island that supports a wide variety of species, including birds, bugs, small mammals and plants. Conservation efforts are essential to protect this valuable environment where shorebirds feed alongside its brackish ponds while songbirds make their homes in the protective grasses.

Insects contribute to the biodiversity, offering food sources for migratory and nesting birds as well as mammals. The grassland ecology is located on contiguous Museum Land Trust parcels that includes the well field and buffers for the island’s water supply.

Anyone who has enjoyed a recent walk on Middle Farms trails south of the main road has probably noticed the increase in woody plants, especially sumac. The increased presence of woody and invasive species not only physically outcompetes native plants for space and light, but some species engage in chemical warfare to the detriment of other plants. It’s not surprising that the Museum has recorded a diminishing number of grassland-adapted rare plants in the area.

According to Land Trust Manager Jack Schneider, without any management to the area, the composition of the soil and climactic influences would cause the open grassland to become forested, as it was during pre-settlement. Initially, it would become increasingly dominated by woody and invasive species and resemble the successional forest located between the open grassland and Penni’s Path (a trail that begins at the driving range parking lot).

“Although it’s a relatively small area, its location along the flyway and relative lack of human disturbance, along with the increasing reduction in grasslands generally, lends importance to maintaining the grassland,” says Schneider.

Middle Farms map showing the area being burned in 2025 in yellow.

The most effective way to manage and maintain Middle Farms as we know it is through prescribed burns, which over the years have been performed by the Fishers Island Fire Department (FIFD). In recent years unfavorable weather and significant wetness have prevented FIFD from achieving the high temperatures necessary for effective management, especially with the increase in stubborn woody plant material.

To address the issue, the Museum’s Land Trust committee and staff consulted with Star Tree Wildfire, LLC, a New Jersey-based company that specializes in wildland fuel mitigation through prescribed burns. They have been contracted to perform a burn at Middle Farms in March with the help of the FIFD.

Star Tree co-owner Bill Edwards says, “The general strategy is to use a low-intensity ‘backing fire’ so that fuels are slowly consumed, which prolongs the fire’s effects. We light the fire against the wind rather than letting the wind take it, which keeps things under control. This technique allows us to burn large areas like Middle Farms in a controlled fashion.”

Weather plays an important role in choosing the best day for the burn. According to Edwards, they generally look for a weather window that consists of low temperatures (below 50°F) and a humidity level above 30% and a day that has a constant and steady wind coming from a direction that will not impact any structures or negative smoke receptors. “Weather is also constantly monitored by an onsite person and is announced over the radio to all persons involved with the operation and recorded,” he says. “Safety is accomplished by burning the fuels around the area to the point that they will not burn again if new fire was introduced to them.”

Members of the FIFD will have the opportunity to train with and work alongside the team from Star Tree. “We are very big on using each burn as a training exercise for all groups involved,” says Edwards. “Since we come from another area and consider ourselves out-of-towners, it’s very important to keep all local supporting agencies involved and informed with the activities planned. We treat any trained and qualified firefighter as one of our own.”

The morning of the burn will begin at the fire station with a briefing on planned operations, staging of equipment and persons, as well as staffing of engines and crews. “It’s a really great opportunity for our team to learn from people who do this every day,” says FIFD Fire Chief Chris Aiello. “We’re looking forward to actively participating alongside Bill and his team.”

Edwards says, “Once all the sides have burned into the middle, the only thing left burning is smoldering debris. At this point we will start to ‘mop up’ with water and extinguish anything left.”