Well, all the numerous factors have fallen in place this morning and the Burn Boss along with his crew have decided go ahead with the prescribed burn. It'll likely be close to noon before media are allowed up close to the fire. I think it's because they'd like to see how the fire behaves for an hour or two before allowing inexperienced civilians on the mountain.

Rangers from Crowders Mountain, NC Forest Service guys, former Crowders' rangers and local firemen are around to make sure nothing goes too horribly wrong.

From my previous experience with these guys, I have no worries. Anyone working on a prescribed burn has had the training they need and Burn Bosses -- the ones in charge -- have had more training than you can even imagine. They have to know fire behavior, plant ecology, the burning capacity of certain woods, when to burn and how it will affect plant and animal population; not to mention a hefty knowledge of meteorology and how to organize a huge crew.

So, stay tuned and I'll have more coverage as it happens.
(If you hang in there, you'll even get to see me dressed in a Nomex fire resistant jumpsuit -- which is just as flattering as it sounds!)

Labels: Crowders Mountain, fire