After an hour or more carefully creating the blackline, the crew could then begin to set fires along the upwind edges of the field. As the fire extended out into the center, 20ft flames erupted, safely contained by the previously created blacklines on all downwind edges. At the end, the entire prairie area was safely burned over, allowing the prairie grasses to quickly resume growth in a week or two. Tallgrass prairies are dependent on periodic fires to rejuvenate their growth. 

In compliance with Ohio EPA open burning permits for prairie fires, the Wheeler burn could take place only when air and wind conditions allowed for the adequate lofting of smoke. Any person reading this page is reminded that open burning in Ohio, for any similar purpose or site, is prohibited without proper written authorizations from both the Ohio Division of Forestry and the Ohio EPA. If you want to contact Mr. Blakeman about information on a burn, his e-mail address is listed below.