Maui is burning down. Not really, but it sure smells like it. Somewhere on the island a sugarcane crop is burning.
Here are some quick facts I just googled:
Sugar cane begins with a 12 inch long "slip" cut from a stalk of cane that is machine inserted into the earth. The sugar cane then receives irrigation and fertilization, but not much else in the way of human attention beyond that while it is growing, and is ready for harvest in 24 months. A single cane stalk can produce three crops. Then the field is replanted with new slips. An acre of land can yield over 90 tons of cane or 12.5 tons of raw sugar.
After a cane field burn, especially on calm days, there will be lots of smoke in the air. Tradewinds will clear it out by the following day. Cane field burning is used to clear debris and excess leaves from the cane. It does not "cook" or prepare the cane in any way. The cane burning must be carefully scheduled to take advantage of favorable winds and weather conditions. The sugar companies have teams that coordinate within the company and communicate to the public. Often announcements of planned harvests are made on the radio. Use the information and take another route if at all possible. Avoid breathing the smoke if you can!
While these huge sugarcane fires are amazing and sometimes beg to be photographed, bystanders can get in the way. It is NOT safe to stop near a burn and it is foolish to even get close. Fires are carefully watched, but a sudden wind shift can direct smoke or flames in any direction. The smoke can be dense enough to disorient anyone and the dry fields burn quickly.
The coolest part about this is when ashes start to fall from the sky and you're hanging around people who have no idea what's going on. You just look at them with the most serious look on your face and say "VOLCANO!" Some people actually get nervous....it's hilarious!
No comments:
Post a Comment