The primary pine barrens plant species (e.g., Jack Pine, Hill's Oak, Big and Little Bluestem) require periodic, low-intensity fires to compete. 

The next burn is scheduled for September 2004.

The pictures and text below, provided by Mora McCusker, describe this process.

Smoke from a prescribed burn as seen from the Gordon fire tower.	Fred Strand, DNR wildlife biologist, torches perimeter of a section to be burned.		Fred carefully works his way around one of several potholes. An unburned buffer is maintained around the water to provide erosion control.
People and machines keep a close watch on the burn.			As the afternoon progresses, scheduled sections are burned.
		A successful outcome is evidenced by the blackness of the scorched earth.	The next day, tell-tale signs of burrowing animals leave a message that life is resuming as usual.
Winter settles in and the blackened ground will rest beneath a blanket of snow.	Spring arrives and as soon as the snow melts, the ground warms and new growth begins to make an appearance.