Burning our native-grass areas in a buffer is a priority in the early spring season. Burning stimulates warm-season grass growth and is a needed maintenance practice. The several pictures below document some burning practices. Burning a tall-grass area in spring can be spectacular, but there are many saftey procedures that should be followed. We use a 500 gallon truck-mounted spraying unit to keep plants wet and the fire in check Here, a crew member sprays a fire break. Sometimes, the wind can be problematic. Several people should be available to put out fires should they escape into surrounding field stubble. It is important to have a "mop-up" crew to make sure the fire is out. Two crew members in this picture are using flappers to smother small fires. Using a large truck-mounted spraying unit has its advantages. Backpack sprayers can be filled wherever the truck happens to be. Much of the time performing a maintenance burn is hot and tiring.