Ticks are much less of a problem since we started prescribed burns a decade ago. Ticks spend much of their lives in and under the leaf litter. A spring "hot" fire will seriously dent the population not to mention the good it does for wildlife.
Haven't had a tick on me in years since I started spraying permethrin on my clothes. I buy the concentrated "cattle spray" at the COOP and dilute it down to desired percentage. DO NOT spray on skin or inhale.
