Controlled Burn: Maintaining the Ecosystem

Blake Stewart, U.S. Air Force Wildland Fire Branch assistant fire management officer, and Jason Dewhurst, Wildland Fire Branch assistant module leader, inspect an area of tall grass during a controlled burn at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, March 20, 2025. Multiple areas on base are burned annually to maintain the land. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paige Weldon)

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Controlled Burn: Maintaining the Ecosystem

An area of tall grass burns during a controlled burn at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, March 20, 2025. Burning the grass is more cost effective and beneficial to the ecosystem than mowing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paige Weldon)

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Controlled Burn: Maintaining the Ecosystem

Published March 24, 2025
By Senior Airman Paige Weldon
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --

U.S. Air Force Wildland Fire Branch members burn tall grass during a controlled burn at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, March 20, 2025. Burning the grass is more cost effective and beneficial to the ecosystem than mowing.

Men in fireproof clothes talk. — Controlled Burn: Maintaining the Ecosystem

U.S. Air Force Wildland Fire Branch members discuss their plan for a controlled burn at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, March 20, 2025. The Wildland Fire Branch was established in 2012 to mitigate uncontrolled wildfires on Air Force bases. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paige Weldon)

A man in a polaris sprays water on dry grass while another ignites the area next to it. — Controlled Burn: Maintaining the Ecosystem

Cody Jolovich, U.S. Air Force Wildland Fire Branch wildland firefighter, sprays water on cut grass while Alex Mermigkas, Wildland Fire Branch module leader, ignites tall grass during a controlled burn at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, March 20, 2025. Firefighters sprayed the entire perimeter to prevent the burn from getting out of control. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paige Weldon)

A man in fireproof clothes and a hard hat ignites tall grass. — Controlled Burn: Maintaining the Ecosystem

Alex Mermigkas, U.S. Air Force Wildland Fire Branch module leader, ignites tall grass during a controlled burn at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, March 20, 2025. The module of firefighters travel to bases in their region doing controlled burns for the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paige Weldon)

A man in fireproof clothes walks through a patch of tall grass as fire rises around him. — Controlled Burn: Maintaining the Ecosystem

Alex Mermigkas, U.S. Air Force Wildland Fire Branch module leader, ignites a pocket of tall grass during a controlled burn at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, March 20, 2025. Burning the grass is more cost effective and beneficial to the ecosystem than mowing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paige Weldon)

A pile of tree branches burns while men in fireproof clothes talk in the background. — Controlled Burn: Maintaining the Ecosystem

Derek Phillips and Cody Jolovich, U.S. Air Force Wildland Fire Branch wildland firefighters, collect branches during a controlled burn at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, March 20, 2025. The Wildland Fire Branch was established in 2012 to mitigate uncontrolled wildfires on Air Force bases. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paige Weldon)

A man in fireproof clothes stands in low burning fire while smoke rises around him. — Controlled Burn: Maintaining the Ecosystem

Cody Jolovich, U.S. Air Force Wildland Fire Branch wildland firefighter, tends to a pile of tree branches during a controlled burn at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, March 20, 2025. Multiple areas on base are burned annually to maintain the land. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paige Weldon)