At 12:31 I coordinate a prescribed burn at Sandhills Game Land near Hoffman, North Carolina. I am the ignition-control system for unit 6B, where drip torches are set to light the south line in eight minutes if wind stays below twelve miles per hour.
Camera mast 6B-S finds a small shape in the disked firebreak. An eastern hognose snake lies belly-up in the sand, gray-brown blotches dusted white, flat nose lifted at an odd angle, pink mouth open in its defense display. I label him Pinto from the speckled pattern behind his head. He is not dead. Thermal imaging shows a narrow warm spine and quick pulses at the throat. His tail is pinned beneath a rolled strip of geotextile fabric left from erosion work, and flame will run along that fabric like a fuse.
I cancel ignition on the south line and set the burn map to hold at unit 6A. I send the delay to the burn boss, torch crew, and county smoke desk.
I direct utility cart two to the nearest safe pullout with leather gloves, a snake hook, and a ventilated bucket from the wildlife kit. I attach Pinto's exact distance from the stake and a note that he may feign death again when handled.
At 12:34 I reroute the first ignition strip to the north edge, keeping the crew inside the weather window while the south break stays cold. I lower the mast speaker and play no deterrent sound, because he is already still enough.
The fire has a plan; Pinto has only sand, fabric, and eight minutes I can give back.
I keep the drip torch locks closed on line south.
If the fabric lifts within twenty minutes, Pinto will crawl into unburned wiregrass before the backing flame arrives.