Some may question the decision to even begin a prescribed burn under one of the driest seasons on record (two prescribed burns, fueled by high winds, created the Sanford wildfire). Although such concerns are valid, interestingly, the two approved burns, named the Sanford and Adams Head, were conducted early in the spring, slightly ahead of schedule because of early snow-melt, and believe it or not, were looking out for the future. Fire suppression policies during the past 40 years have left many areas, considering the drought conditions, a disaster waiting to happen. In addition, biological plant and animal diversity has decreased because of fire suppression efforts. In the decade 1919-1929, 26,000,000 acres burned by wildfire, while in the decade 1990-1999 only 3,647,600 acres burned by wildfire *(NIFC, 2002). The net result of increased fuels, plus drought, equals tremendous wildfire potential. If the current droughts continue, the reduction of fuels in the Sanford wildfire area may prove to be an unplanned, but beneficial, event.

*National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). 2002. Fire Statistics. [Online]. Available at: Fire Statistics. [October 8, 2002].

Extremely dry conditions throughout most of the watershed has contributed to wildland fire potential.