Prescribed burn used to control invasive species

Valley Forge National Park held a prescribed burn to clear out sections of brush in the meadows.

Valley Forge National Park staff held a prescribed fire burn of meadows along Gulph Road and South Outer Line Drive near the National Arch along the border between Chester and Montgomery counties Wednesday.

The fire team of 14 people wearing fire-resistant clothing used small-lantern size burners to light sections of brush.

They began with a test burn to determine if conditions and humidity were favorable. Crews followed behind with rakes, and backup teams used ATVs with water pumps to monitor the flames which flared up quickly, sending smoke wafting across the park.

William Crolly, Mid-Atlantic fire management officer for the National Park said five distinct units were planned with the first one being 60 acres near the National Arch and Wayne’s Woods.

Crolly said the prescribed burn served three functions: to reduce fuel for and prevent wildfires; to clear invasive species which deter ground favoring birds and their nest building; and to control the landscape, keeping vistas open for visitors to enjoy.

Crolly said crews from Gettysburg National Historic Park, Delaware Water Gap, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation, as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were assisting at Valley Forge Park. Berwyn Fire Company loaned an ATV and sent one firefighter to assist in the operation, and other fire departments in the area were notified in advance of the operation, Crolly said.

Deirdre Gibson, chief of planning and resource management, said the operation was a follow-up to a prescribed test burn the park service performed four years ago along Yellow Springs Road near the covered bridge.

That burn was conducted to see if fire had any effect on historical ground objects.

“There was no noted effects on archeological resources,” Gibson said. “It proved to be an effective technique.”

“It creates much better nesting conditions,” added Gibson. “We have 1,500 acres of open land and we are really trying to improve the ecological diversity.”

The park employs a variety of methods to control invasive plants including mowing, applying low levels of herbicide and backplanting of native species. The park service has also considered goat raising for some areas. The four invasive species are Oriental bittersweet, Japanese honeysuckle, wineberry and Callery pear.

This is the last week crews could carry out the burn because birds will begin to build nests in the meadows over the next few weeks, Gibson said.

“We’ve been trying to do this for the last few weeks,” she said, “But it kept snowing.”

According to the National Park Service website, costs for the operation are estimated at $150 an acre, paid for through the Park Service’s fuels management program.

The burn was conducted with extensive consultation with weather conditions with winds expected out of the south-southwest at 10 miles per hour. Additional burns were carried out on Thursday along the Inner Line Drive towards Valley Forge Road.

The park service closed a number of the roads in the park and posted warning signs along Gulph Road during burn operations. Public viewing areas were open to watch the burn at Wayne’s Woods, National Memorial Arch, Varnums Picnic and the Von Steuben parking lots.

“I thought it would be cool to see it,” said Rossana Jaffe of Northeast Philadelphia, who came warmly dressed to watch the operation with her three children.

Sarah Collins of Phoenixville also brought her children, Annebelle, 9, Kaleb, 7, and Rhys, 2, to watch. She laughed as Rhys played on his toy firetruck.

“He came prepared, if they need help,” she laughed.