A demonstration. That’s the only way to see a prairie grass fire.
During my childhood, I read books like Caddie Woodlawn that mentioned prairie grass fires. (I really didn’t even know what a field of prairie grass looked like, until I moved to Nauvoo.)
In Historic Nauvoo there’s a quarter-acre section of prairie grass that is left untouched throughout the year. Each year in early April, a demonstration is given to show just how quickly prairie grass burns.
Local residents and Nauvoo missionaries gather for the big event to watch the controlled burn.
Actually this event signals the beginning of “season” in Nauvoo. New missionaries have begun arriving for the busy summer, shops closed during winter have re-opened for business, and visitors can be seen touring the City Beautiful.
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The demonstration kicks off with a hot dog cookout (just getting warmed up before the BIG fire!)
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Some of Nauvoo’s finest…..
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Bird’s eye view of the prairie grass field, getting photos for the missionary scrapbook
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This little gem, an aerial helicopter camera, flew all over the area getting photographs.
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Tom stationed himself in one spot and waited. Here’s what he got in less than 3 minutes. BEFORE the fire…. 5:59:43 pm.
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Start-up….6:01:27 pm
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6:02:35 pm
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6:02:55 pm
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6:02:59 pm
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You can hear the crackling of brush being consumed….6:03:02 pm
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The heat at this point was intense. Backed Tom up about 10-15 feet….. 6:03:28 pm
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And just as quickly as it started, nothing but smoke. You could tell when the fire stopped because the crackling sound stopped….. 6:03:56 pm
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Hardly any smoke left and bystanders gone…..6:10:36 pm
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All clear….. 6:26:13 pm
Seeing the demonstration really brought Caddie Woodlawn and fears of prairie grass fires and the awesome strength of nature to life. With the burn over, all I can say now is “Welcome Spring!”
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Side note…..we were able to meet the recently arrived Nauvoo Mission President, Larry Gibbons (on the far right) and snapped a photo of him with his counselor and wife, President and Sister Chenowythe.
