Smokies Plans Prescribed Burn in Catalooche

Smokies Plans Prescribed Burn in Catalooche

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park fire management officials are planning a 155-acre prescribed burn in the Canadian Top unit adjacent to Cataloochee Valley in North Carolina.

Weather permitting, burn operations could begin as early as Wednesday, May 1, and may continue intermittently through early May. The 155-acre burn tract along Jesse Ridge is part of the larger Canadian Top prescribed burn unit. Fire managers plan to use a series of low-intensity controlled burns over a number of years to restore the composition and open structure of the oak and pine woodlands that occur on upper slopes and ridges within the site. These fire and drought-tolerant natural communities are important to wildlife and overall ecosystem health, and they are in decline throughout the Southern Appalachian region. The burn is being led by the Great Smoky Wildland Fire Module along with the Great Smoky Fire Effects team and the Great Smoky Wildland Fire Engine Crew.

"One of the goals of the prescribed burn project is to improve elk forage and habitat," stated Great Smoky Wildland Fire Module Leader and Burn Boss, Shane Paxton. This series of burns will reduce the number of fire-sensitive trees and shrubs while increasing regeneration of oak and yellow pines, and increase the cover and diversity of native grasses and wildflowers. Over time, this increase in vegetation on the forest floor will improve forage for elk which graze the nearby meadows.

Roads and trails will remain open to the public. Visitors should expect to see smoke in the area.

For more information on the use of prescribed burns in the Smokies, click here.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

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Black bear cub killed during prescribed fire in Shenandoah National Park

Black bear cub killed during prescribed fire in Shenandoah National Park

Friday, April 12, 2013

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The 500-acre Jarman Gap prescribed burn in Shenandoah National Park was successfully completed on Wednesday and Thursday, April 10-11. Assistant Fire Management Officer John Fry reported that "prescribed fire objectives were achieved." Fry added that local residents and visitors will continue to see smoke from within the burn area over the next several days.

Firefighters successfully contained three spot fires that occurred outside of the planned burn area, but within the park's boundary. They were assisted by water drops from a helicopter staged at Shenandoah Valley Airport by the National Park Service and other agencies during peak fire season. Crews will work today to clear a small portion of the A.T. and Turk Branch Trail, both temporarily closed due to the spot fires.

During the burn, firefighters discovered two black bear cubs who had been injured in the fire. Both were treated by staff at the Wildlife Center of Virginia (WCV), but one succumbed to injuries. The second cub remains in their care and is expected to survive. Once released from the WCV, park staff will work with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to place the cub with a wild nursing female bear. Park Superintendent Jim Northup said, "We deeply regret the injuries to these two bears, but overall we are very pleased with the outcome of this burn."

The Jarman Gap prescribed burn goals were to reduce hazardous fuels and the threat of a major wildfire. The fire will also help to promote oak and pine regeneration, additional animal food sources, and increased plant diversity. The forest of chestnut oak and three types of pine - Virginia, pitch, and table mountain - provides valuable habitat for a variety of wildlife.

The prescribed burn was a multi-agency effort with firefighters and other resources from across the region. Local support came from Dooms and Wilson Fire Departments.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

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Shenandoah Plans Prescribed Burn for Today

Shenandoah Plans Prescribed Burn for Today

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

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Shenandoah National Park Fire Managers plan to burn 500 acres in the park's south district on April 10, 2013. The ignition of the fire is dependent on weather conditions. The burn area is located west of Jarman Gap and northeast of Waynesboro, Virginia.

Prescribed fires are ignited by fire managers under a pre-determined set of conditions, including weather, fuel moisture and resource availability, in order to accomplish specific resource management objectives. All prescribed burns will be conducted as interagency projects, with local support, under the guidance and direction of trained and experienced National Park Service personnel. To learn more about prescribed fire in Shenandoah National Park, please click here.

The Jarman Gap Prescribed Burn aims to reduce hazardous fuels and the threat of a major wildfire. Additionally, the fire will help to promote oak and pine regeneration, additional animal food sources, and increased plant diversity. The forest of chestnut oak and three types of pine - Virginia, pitch, and table mountain - provides valuable habitat for a variety of wildlife.

The plan is for the fire to mimic natural processes as much as possible. It will be lit in such a way that the fire will move fairly slowly down the ridges with low flames. Smoke from the burn will be visible from both inside and outside the park. Some individual trees will burn, but the fire should travel mostly across the forest floor.

During the burn, the Gasline Road Trail will be closed to the public.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

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Smokies Plans Prescribed Burn near Wears Valley

Smokies Plans Prescribed Burn near Wears Valley

Thursday, November 1, 2012

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Fire management officials at Great Smoky Mountains National Park have announced plans to conduct a 200-acre prescribed burn just inside the park south of Wears Valley in Sevier County, TN. The burn will take place sometime during November 11th - 24th, depending on weather. Prescribed burn operations are expected to take 2 days.

Great Smoky Wildland Fire Module, a National Park Service crew of wildland fire specialists, will be conducting the prescribed burn to reduce the build-up of flammable brush inside the Park boundary in order to reduce the risk of an uncontrolled fire. "Protecting our neighbors is a high priority", stated Shane Paxton, Wildland Fire Module Leader. "Along with the positive ecological effects of controlled burning, we are reducing dangerous fuel loading near several homes which will help tremendously if there is ever a wildfire in the area."

The planned burn area is bounded by Wear Cove Gap Road, Indian Camp Branch, Little River Road, and the Park boundary. In preparation for the burn, Wildland Fire Module personnel have been clearing brush and leaf litter along the Park boundary and Indian Camp Branch, which will serve as fire control lines to keep the fire within its planned boundaries. Park fire fighters and cooperator fire engines from Wears Valley Fire Department and Townsend Fire Departments will be prepositioned to patrol the lines and suppress any fire that threatens the containment lines.

This unit was also burned successfully in 2009. The burn is part of a multi-year plan to reduce fuel loadings in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) in Sevier County. Prescribed fire is a proven effective tool in returning forests to their pre-suppression splendor.

Closures for firefighter and public safety include Wear Cove Gap Road from the Metcalf Bottoms bridge to the Park boundary at Wear Cove Gap along with Roundtop Trail. Residents should expect smoke in the area.




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Smokies to Conduct Prescribed Burn Near Top of the World

Smokies to Conduct Prescribed Burn Near Top of the World

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

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Fire Management personnel at Great Smoky Mountains National Park have announced plans to conduct a 280 acre prescribed burn along the park boundary near Lake in the Sky and the Top of the World community in Blount County. The Lynn Hollow controlled burn is planned for a two day period between March 12-31, 2012. The specific date is dependent upon prevailing weather conditions. It is anticipated that residual smoke and mop-up activities could last for several days following burn operations.

The area to be burned is bounded by: Goldmine Trail, Cooper Road, Kingfisher Creek and Flats Road. Access to Goldmine Trail will be restricted during fire operations.

The purpose of this controlled burn is to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations in the vicinity of residential communities (wildland - urban interface) and to restore a diverse and functioning eco-system. The Lynn Hollow area has been impacted by pine bark beetles resulting in a high fuel load of dead and down woody materials. Using fire in a controlled burn will help to reduce the likelihood of an uncontrollable wildfire while helping to restore the yellow pine/hardwood forest.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Forest Service to Conduct Prescribed Burn on Bearpen Mountain This Weekend

Forest Service to Conduct Prescribed Burn on Bearpen Mountain This Weekend

Friday, February 10, 2012

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The U.S. Forest Service plans to implement a 1,200-acre prescribed burn in the Bearpen Mountain area of the Pisgah Ranger District this weekend.

The Forest Service will implement the prescribed burn to reduce woody debris in the forest, which will help prevent catastrophic wildfires.

The prescribed burn will take two to three days to complete and will be confined to Bearpen Mountain. The southern end of the burn will be Hwy 276 at the intersection of Avery Creek Road, extending to the intersection of Coontree Loop Trail and Hwy 276. The northern portion of the burn is Coontree Gap. The burn area will be contained by Avery Creek, Hwy 276, and Coontree Loop and Bennett Gap trails.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Pisgah National Forest to Conduct Prescribed Burn on Bearpen Mountain

Pisgah National Forest to Conduct Prescribed Burn on Bearpen Mountain

Sunday, January 29, 2012

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Earlier in the week the USDA Forest Service announced that it will conduct a 1,200-acre prescribed burn in the Bearpen Mountain area of the Pisgah Ranger District in February or March 2012.

The Forest Service will implement the prescribed burn to reduce woody debris in the forest, which will help prevent catastrophic wildfires. The prescribed burn will also improve wildlife habitat.

The prescribed burn will take two to three days to complete and will be confined to Bearpen Mountain. The southern end of the burn will be Hwy 276 at the intersection of Avery Creek Road, extending to the intersection of Coontree Loop Trail and Hwy 276. The northern portion of the burn is Coontree Gap. The burn area will be contained by Avery Creek, Hwy 276, and Coontree Loop and Bennett Gap trails.

The safety of the public and firefighters is the number one priority. The Forest Service will notify the public when the decision is made to conduct the burn. The agency will close area trails and roads the day before the prescribed burn. The public is asked to heed signs posted at trailheads and roads and to stay away from burn sites and closed roads and trails.

For further information, contact the Pisgah Ranger District at 828-877-3265.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Forest Service to Conduct Prescribed Burn near Dobson Knob on Friday

Forest Service to Conduct Prescribed Burn near Dobson Knob on Friday

Thursday, January 5, 2012

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The USDA Forest Service plans to implement a prescribed burn near Dobson Knob in Burke County in the Pisgah National Forest this Friday, depending on the weather.

The Forest Service's Grandfather Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest plans to burn approximately 1,250 acres on National Forest land. The boundary of the burn is Forest Service Road (FSR) 106 to the north and the rest of the burn will be bordered by the Black Fork and Yellow Fork Creek. There will be a small section of handline (built with handtools similar to a trail) that will connect FSR 106 to Yellow Fork Creek.The prescribed burn will reduce the amount of hazardous fuels in the forest, improve wildlife habitat, and maintain fire-dependent and fire-adapted species.

For additional information, contact Grandfather District Ranger John Crockett at 828-652-2144 ext. 103.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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U.S. Forest Service Planning Prescribed Burn in Pink Beds Area

U.S. Forest Service Planning Prescribed Burn in Pink Beds Area

Saturday, March 5, 2011

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The Pisgah Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest is planning to implement a prescribed burn in the Pink Beds area. The burn area will be up to 2,000 acres in size and will likely take place in the next six weeks depending on the weather. The purpose of the burn is to reduce the amount of hazardous fuels in the forest and to improve wildlife habitat. Forest Service Road #1206 (Yellow Gap Road), # 476 (Wolf Ford Road) and Sections of Pink Beds Loop trail (#118) and Barnett Branch (# 618) trail may be closed during the burn.

In 2011, approximately 24,000 acres of prescribed burns are scheduled on the four national forests across the state. The Pisgah, Appalachian and Grandfather Ranger Districts in Western North Carolina are working towards increasing the amount of acres treated annually as budgets allow.

Prescribed fire is a valuable wildlife and forest management tool. Many ecosystems throughout North Carolina include fire-adapted species. Many native plants and animals need fire in their habitats to reduce competition from invading species, and to add nutrients back into the soil.

Prescribed burns can reduce build-up of shrubs and dead wood. Burning the same tract of land on a rotation of every three to seven years reduces the buildup of vegetation (fuel), and decreases the chance of severe wildfire. Smoke from wildfires usually has a greater impact on nearby communities and carries more pollutants than smoke from controlled burns.

Prescribed burning also helps support strategic goals of restoring ecological systems to their natural resilience, restoring native vegetation, and protecting people and resources from catastrophic fires.

For more information on prescribed fire please visit the U S Forest Service website; http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/management/ and the NC Division of Forest Resources website; http://www.dfr.state.nc.us.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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