Southern Illinois University's Hottest Program

Dr. Charles Ruffner of SIU runs a rare and wonderful program for forestry students at Carbondale, Illinois. In addition to classroom instruction in the control and use of fire, Dr. Ruffner teaches his students how to handle fire in the field, conducts prescribed fires, fire research, and makes sure that his students are qualified to go on fires with the US Forest Service.


Dr. Ruffner is conducting the final briefing before we ignite a prescribed burn on private land near Marion, Illinois. The fire program at SIU prepares these students like no other program in this country. Many of the students use their training to fight western fires during the summer in order to finance their schooling.

ATV fire buggies are a big improvement in fire fighting and prescribed burns. Before ATV's we had to carry five gallon fire packs, which are bad for the back and your shoulders. You can move a lot faster with an ATV, patrol more effectively, and you carry three or more times the water to the action.

The students learn many valuable lessons under the tutelage of Dr. Ruffner, USFS personnel, and other experienced fire fighters. Below this transmission line you see a big patch of phragmites, which will put up huge volumes of heavy, black smoke capable of creating arcing, which can kill people, and knock out electrical service to entire regions. To the right of the phragmites you can see a patch of broomsedge, which is easily ignited, and very flashy. Light flashy fuels are very dangerous to fire fighters, and the broomsedge has the ability to carry fire into the phragmites, so these facts are taken into account when you design your tactics in a prescribed burn or in a wildfire.

When we lit the hillside next to the broomsedge we had already dampened the edge and posted two ATV's, plus several students with hand tools. It turned out that the broomsedge did catch, and we put out several small spots within seconds. Recognizing the hazard in advance prevented trouble.

This video segment ends abruptly as I spotted the ignition in the broomsedge. It doesn't take much of a spark to ignite dry grass.

One of the Fire Dawgs patrolling the fire line.

Much of fire fighting is mundane and non-exciting, but very necessary. One of the important skills is locating hot spots as the fire line cools down, and making them safe. The ability to easily utilize water on wildland fires is a great advancement .

The Fire Dawgs are all cooled off and ready to go back to the classroom. They are a hard working and very professional bunch of students. Kudos to you, Dr. Ruffner!