Forest friendly fire

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Amy Galetka, Eglin Natural Resources prescribed fire program technician, works to prematurely extinguish a fire line during prescribed burn operations April 8. The fire management technicians at Jackson Guard use prescribed fire techniques to keep a delicate longleaf pine ecosystem thriving while keeping the military mission a priority year round. Eglin is the largest Air Force base in the U.S. with more than 464,000 acres of land, and is home to more than 77 state and federally listed rare species. With more than 100,000 acres burned last season, the goal is to burn a five-year average of 70,000 acres per year. So far this season, the fire management program has burned more than 76,000 acres. The April 8 fire was called off early because of rapidly changing weather conditions and wildlife habitat endangerment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Meares)