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Prescribed Burning Guidelines
in the Northern Great Plains

Confining Fire

Wetlines

Confining fires with wetline techniques (Fig 30) is similar to applying chemical and foam retardants, except that the water can be applied with simpler equipment and larger tankers will be necessary to carry large volumes of water.

Unlike retardant chemicals, water or wetlines can evaporate rapidly in fine grassland fuels, requiring that you be more cautious during fire initiation. The advantages of wetline techniques are that water is cheap and that simple equipment, even farm-type sprayers, can be used during application.

Wetting agents can be added to the water to enhance its cohesiveness to fuels. Several different wetline techniques have been described by Martin et al (1977).

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Prescribed Burning Guidelines in the Northern Great Plains

Confining Fire

Wetlines

Prescribed Burning Guidelines
in the Northern Great Plains