After the swiddens have dried in the hot season, they are burned before the onset of the rains. Prior to burning, however, fire-breaks are constructed in the swiddens in order to reduce the risk of setting the adjacent forests aflame. This consists of throwing the dried slashed vegetation at the perimeter of swiddens inside and, sometimes, by clearing a little of the undergrowth that abuts onto the cleared swiddens. Not much time is spent on this task, and it is undertaken by household members with, occasionally, some assistance from another household. The firing of swiddens is also carried out by small teams of two or three men on a labour exchange basis. This is done by men who start fires at different points at the perimeter of swiddens. These points are usually chosen downslope at the base of swiddens, near the little streams where swiddens are often cleared, as a line of retreat once the swiddens are ablaze. Slash is piled up to provide a good source of fuel for the starting fires which are lighted with torches of fresh pinewood, the resin in the wood being inflammable. The swiddens are burnt in the late morning and within a few hours the dried slash and trees are reduced to ashes. Although they are careful enough to make fire-breaks, the Palokhi Karen do not organise fire-fighting teams as a precaution against fires which may go out of control and burn the adjacent forests (see also Kunstadter 1978: 83).

After the swiddens have been burnt, they are left to cool and they are then inspected a few days later to see if the burning has been satisfactory. In 1980 and 1981 all swiddening households were successful with the first fires in their swiddens and, therefore, did not need to reburn them. The re-burning of swiddens entails the gathering of ill-burnt or unburnt slash into piles and a second firing. The purpose of this is, of course, to ensure a more even spread of ash which acts as a source of nutrients for the crops and, secondly, to remove more of the fallen timber from the area to be cultivated.