Something to be said for being there

Ever hear the phrase, “You just had to be there”, well now I know exactly what that means.

When you think about public relations, chances are you don’t think about taking part in setting fires to the sides of mountains. Well there is something to be said for the PR practitioner who takes chances by going out into the field.

My public relations work involves educating the public about various programs that benefit the environment and the flora and fauna, which inhabit it. Since I am by no means a science major, some of the work I cover seems completely foreign to me.

Therefore, sometimes the only way to get a good idea about something is to experience it first hand.

I took part in a “Prescribed Burn” this past week at the Sprewell Bluffs Natural Area near Thomaston, GA. It was nothing short of amazing.

Working alongside a highly trained crew, I never once felt like I was in any danger, despite being only a few feet away from waist high flames.

According to the Georgia DNR "Prescribed burning is an important technique used by wildlife and forestry managers to stimulate the growth of grasses and forbs, set back the growth of small trees and shrubs, improve access, provide habitat for threatened and endangered species, enhance populations of fire-dependent plants and animals and reduce high fuel levels that can contribute to dangerous wildfires."

It is a safe way to apply a natural process and to ensure ecosystem health by reducing the risk of wildfires.”

In fact much of the damage on private lands from last summer’s wildfires in the Okefenokee area was due to fire suppression, or in layman’s terms, lack of fire.

I got the opportunity to get right up there with the team as the slung drip torches (flaming cans of accelerant) along a predetermined fire line. We burned well into the night, which was an incredible sight to behold. I inhaled a lot of smoke and discovered just how out of shape I really am but it was well worth it to get a mountaintop view of fire both above and below us coming together in a sort of crazy V formation in the dark.

After it was all said and done we had burned approximately 550 acres, which sounds huge but is actually considered a pretty small burn.

A special thanks to the burn crew for allowing a lowly public affairs officer to tag along, it was awesome. Keep up the great work!