In the wake of a months-long drought that has stretched across the state, local fire chiefs are not issuing burning permits, the state has established a ban on debris burning, and there is also concern with how this drought will impact fall foliage and our wildlife.
Woodstock Fire Chief David Green spoke to the Standard about the current climate conditions, stating, “In light of the recent drought, Woodstock has had a burn ban in place for the past two months. That means that those wishing to burn on their property — whether it be recreationally or for the purpose of clearing debris from their land — have been unable to receive a permit. This is out of necessity as we work to mitigate the risk of fire and protect our local residents and land.” So far, this local permit ban is being policed by neighbors, as those in the area keep a lookout for smoke coming from backyards. “We need to inform the public that a permit must be obtained in order to burn. Given the current environmental conditions, no permits will be awarded for the foreseeable future,” Green said. “Unless we see a significant amount of rainfall, I cannot imagine this ban being lifted on a local or state level.”
As of noon on Monday, Sept. 22, Vermont’s Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) issued a statewide ban on debris burning that stipulates no permits should be issued until the ban is lifted and environmental conditions improve.
Kathy Decker, Forest Protection Program Manager for the FPR spoke to the Standard about this statewide ban, and what residents can expect to see in the months to come. “As many are probably aware, we have been in a severe drought state and have seen higher fire threats for most of August and September. These conditions, combined with the leaves beginning to fall, have caused the state to more actively enforce burning procedures,” she said. “In ideal years, we have a wet summer that provides adequate moisture and rainfall to the state. But since experiencing this extended drought season, everything is very dry. When you combine dry soil with light, fluffy fuels from the foliage that falls to the ground, the two together create a potential problem.”
Decker went on to explain that the term “fuel” refers to anything that has the potential to burn. Given the dryness of the foliage currently, the risk of leaves falling to the ground and acting as fuel has increased exponentially compared to past foliage seasons.
“Because of the lack of rainfall, there is very little moisture in the soil, especially in the top layers of soil where lots of organic matter lay,” Decker added. “This means that fires can burn into the ground. Even if a fire is seemingly put out, with the right soil conditions, that fire can smolder into the ground and burn for a very long time without an active flame. That condition alone is problematic. Imagine someone lights a campfire and leaves it, believing they put the fire out, but an ember is still burning, and foliage begins to fall over the area. Those dry leaves will act as immediate fuel for the burning ember, and a fire could erupt.”
“We do not have a timeframe on this ban,” Decker added.
Ryan Rebozo, director of conservation science for the Vermont Center for Ecostudies in White River Junction, also spoke to the Standard about the effects this current drought will have on the environment, and the threat it could pose to a vivid fall foliage season. “Droughts are going to impact different species in different parts of the environment in different ways. If you are considering foliage, you must look at how different plants respond to drought. The first signs of stress that we can pick up on in plants is wilting. Wilting can take many forms, but the reason a plant wilts is to try and conserve water by respiring less. That means plants will slow down the respiration that occurs through their leaves, produce less sugar, and stunt their own growth. If this process happens, we could expect to see a trigger in trees and other plants to defoliate — to drop their leaves and become dormant sooner,” Rebozo said.
An extended period of drought can also have a devastating impact on fish, reptiles, birds, and other wildlife. “A fall drought season in Vermont impacts more than just the trees. The wildlife that surrounds us is affected through the reducing of available food and water, forcing animals to concentrate into smaller areas, disrupting spawning cycles, and increasing human-wildlife conflicts. The effects can be particularly severe because it precedes the critical winter season when food sources are already scarce,” Rebozo said.
“I suspect we will need months of rainfall to replenish and recover from this drought. In the meantime, I encourage people to practice water conservation behavioral changes. This starts with outdoor use of water, such as watering the lawn or washing the car. I’d recommend activities such as these wait until we experience consistent rainfall, and avoid spraying water unnecessarily outside, as it will simply evaporate under these conditions,” Rebozo concluded.
For more on this, please see our September 25 edition of the Vermont Standard.
