It's a very similar idea here in Illinois, the Prairie State. The prairies are all burned either in the fall (right after the season) or in the spring (right before the season) because it kills off all the European grass that would otherwise choke it (only one of the many reasons to burn a prairie). People didn't settle out here for years, becuase they were scared of rampant fires that just happened every so often. BIG FIRE EVERY YEAR = FUN - Infinityandbeyond