Prescribed Burn Association meeting rescheduled for Feb. 23 in West Plains

Area residents in Howell and surrounding counties are invited to a meeting Feb. 23 to discuss forming a local Prescribed Burn Association (PBA), a group in which neighbors help neighbors to conduct prescribed burns. Fifty-seven people had registered for the previous meeting scheduled for Jan. 26, but it was canceled due to snow.

The Feb. 23 PBA formation meeting, planned for 6:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the West Plains Civic Center, 100 St. Louis St., is free and open to all, but participants are asked to register in advance at:  bit.ly/westplainspba1.

Attendees are encouraged to watch an online video covering topics that would have been discussed during the canceled meeting, such as the benefits of prescribed fire, how PBAs can be structured and function, and how to form one. A browser search for "PBA Interest Meeting Recording" should bring up the YouTube video.

During the Feb. 23 meeting, organizers will answer questions about PBAs, and then begin a discussion with attendees about how a local PBA would operate, generate potential names for the PBA, and open the floor for board member nominations/voting.

Prescribed fire can reduce fuel on the ground to lessen the intensity and chance of wildfire, help restore native plant communities, thin the understory, enhance wildlife habitat, improve forage for livestock and deer, and regenerate desirable tree species, such as shortleaf pine. Landowners and others can join a PBA to pool their knowledge, experience, equipment, and peoplepower to manage controlled fires effectively and safely.

Organizations partnering to host the meeting are the National Wild Turkey Federation, Quail Forever and Pheasants Forever, National Deer Association and the Missouri Department of Conservation, along with the Missouri Prescribed Fire Council and local individuals.

Educational handouts will be available free, courtesy of the Oak Woodlands and Forests Fire Consortium.

For additional event information, contact Wes Buchheit, wbuchheit@quailforever.org or Denise Vaughn, dhvaughn@socket.net. For more information about prescribed fire, visit moprescribedfire.org and oakfirescience.com.