By H.L. Ferguson Museum Land Trust Manager Jack Schneider

The burn specialists—employed by Star Tree Wildfire, LLC—arrived on the midday ferry on Saturday, March 8, and drove to the firehouse, where they were warmly greeted by members of the Fishers Island Fire Department (FIFD) led by Chief Chris Aiello.

After introductions, Bill Edwards, the owner of Star Tree and “burn boss,” described the plan for conducting the prescribed burn at Middle Farms on behalf of the H.L. Ferguson Museum Land Trust. He provided map handouts of the burn area and the conditions stipulated in the New York State Department of Environment and Conservation permit that needed to be met before conducting the burn. There was concern that one important factor, wind speed, would be just outside the required range based on that day’s forecast. Then Edwards, Aiello and other FIFD members discussed equipment needs and availability, as well as staffing roles and communication. The meeting adjourned and the participants traveled to Middle Farms to walk the property and make note of any additional planning needs.

On Sunday, March 9, “Burn Day” started at 8:00 a.m. with a hearty bacon and eggs breakfast prepared by the firehouse chefs. Edwards, Aiello and other FIFD members outlined the plan for the day, writing down equipment needs and staffing assignments on the whiteboard so that everyone was clear on who was doing what.

Prior to burning, Edwards received two spot weather forecasts from the National Weather Service, which predicted the permitted conditions would hold.

FIFD’s Rescue #3 crew laying down water on the Middle Farms Road pond side of the acreage.
Photo Credit: Jane Ahrens

The operation then moved to Middle Farms with the fire department’s three trucks, and the EMT staff and ambulance, along with Star Tree’s three pickups and two utility task vehicles (UTVs). Fifteen FIFD members augmented Star Tree’s team of nine. Site preparation began with staff taking their designated positions and the FIFD firefighters driving up Middle Farms Road laying down a wet line of water to deter the fire from crossing the road.

Star Tree fire starters laying the blaze against the wind.
Photo Credit: Jack Schneider

Counterintuitively, the burn started against the wind in the northeast corner of the grassland by the osprey nest. A layperson would expect the burn to start upwind and use the wind to carry the flames across the field. However, a downwind start allows the flames to dwell longer at the starting point—in effect burning back onto itself thus intensifying the heat and resulting damage. This process creates “black,” which is desirable because it forms a nonflammable border.

Polly, one of Star Tree’s burn planners, at the opposite side as flames head for the middle.
Photo Credit: Jack Schneider

The crew walked southward along Middle Farms Road, applying a thin stream of fuel to a strip of vegetation between two and six feet in from the dirt road. This formed the firebreak. As the flames caught and consumed that vegetation and proceeded across the northern field, a second crew member added another layer of flames 10–20 feet from the road edge until they reached the first of the mowed 30-foot firebreaks—well into the grassland and away from the road, near the Middle Farms Pond outlet.

Star Tree crew members in the UTV with water tanks continuing the wet line along the firebreak.
Photo Credit: Jane Ahrens

As they proceeded around the perimeter, along Island Pond, then northwards to the driving range, one crew member riding the UTV with water tanks laid down a continuous flame-inhibiting wetline along the firebreak. A second crew member ignited a single stream of fire that carried across the field, eventually coalescing with the other lit areas. The smoke, pushed by the wind, at times surrounded the crew and dimmed the sun.

After the main burn, the north field across the main road was also burned, with the crew dousing a wetline along the mowed utility pole right-of-way to form the firebreak.

All in all, the operation was well-managed, methodical, safe and successful as it achieved the Museum Land Trust committee’s goal to curb the persistent woody overgrowth on Middle Farms.

The burn started at 9:00 a.m. and finished at noon. The FIFD graciously hosted lunch for the whole team and provided Star Tree with FIFD T-shirts and pen souvenirs. Most importantly, Chief Aiello and Edwards formally exchanged positive sentiments, which, it seemed, were shared by the rank and file. Afterwards, Star Tree staff said the members of the FIFD were excellent professionals and the best hosts of any fire department with which they had worked.

Learn more about the Museum’s prescribed burn: