Starting a blaze

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- David Grimm, a Jackson Guard forestry technician and wildland fire specialist, uses a fire drip can to start a fire line during a prescribed burn at White Point, an 85-acre recreation area on the Choctawhatchee Bay Jan. 29. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin's fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. As of the 2008 control burn season, Jackson Guard's five-year average is 73,000 acres burned annually. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Smoky haze

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. ? Ryan Campbell, a Jackson Guard forestry technician and wildland fire specialist, navigates an all-terrain vehicle through smoke looking over the charred area during a prescribed burn at White Point, an 85-acre recreation area on the Choctawhatchee Bay Jan. 29. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin?s fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. As of the 2008 control burn season, Jackson Guard?s five-year average is 73,000 acres burned annually. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Clearing a path

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. ? Ryan Campbell, a Jackson Guard forestry technician and wildland fire specialist, navigates an all-terrain vehicle through a wooded area dragging a fire drip line in his path to start a prescribed burn at White Point, an 85-acre recreation area on the Choctawhatchee Bay Jan. 29. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin?s fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. As of the 2008 control burn season, Jackson Guard?s five-year average is 73,000 acres burned annually. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Bringing the heat

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Tom Murrie, a Jackson Guard forestry technician and wildland fire specialist, uses a mixture of fuels in a drip line to spark a prescribed fire from an all terrain vehicle at White Point, an 85-acre recreation area on the Choctawhatchee Bay Jan. 29. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin?s fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. As of the 2008 control burn season, Jackson Guard's five-year average is 73,000 acres burned annually. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Getting ready

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Jackson Guard forestry technicians and wildland fire specialists gear-up for a prescribed burn at White Point, an 85-acre recreation area on the Choctawhatchee Bay Jan. 29. Many native plants and animal species depend on Eglin's fire-dependent long-leaf pine ecosystem, 11 of which are federally protected. Endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, depend on fire that is typically caused by either lightning strikes or Eglin's resident fire managers to survive. As of the 2008 control burn season, Jackson Guard's five-year average is 73,000 acres burned annually. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Bird strike

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Col. Bill Thornton, former 46th Operations Group commander, takes a look a the damage a bird did to the F-16 Falcon aircraft he flew during his fini flight as a commander here. Wildlife biologists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services are tasked with implementing the Bird and Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard program. Colonel Thornton is currently the 412th Test Wing commander at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)