Forestry Students from the Central Louisiana Technical College (CLTC) participated in a Control Burn on the Austin Tree Farm in the Tannehill Community on Wednesday, April 16.

Conducting the burn was Glenn Austin, owner of the tract and forester and real estate agent with Forestland Associates and Kevin Daugherty, forester and broker with Forestland Associates.   

Working with them were Valerie West (NW Region Forestry with LSU AgCenter) and Extension Research Assistant Kana Furukawa.

Students were trained in proper planning of a control burn by developing a “Burning Plan” prior to a burn explained Austin.   The burn plan includes NOAA Weather Burn Forecast information which includes wind direction, relative humidity, and mixing height of smoke.   The purpose of the control burn was to reduce fuel load which could result in a wildfire and also to improve wildlife habitat.

Students learned multiple methods of control burning which included back fire, strip firing, head fire, and spot firing.    The students have completed a three-day prescribed burner course, but need five control burns to become a “Certified Burner” according to Louisiana Burn Laws.    This was one of the five burns they need to be a Certified Burner.”