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Prescribed Burns
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Prescribed Burns Planned for Nantahala National Forest

Friday, February 28, 2014

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The U.S. Forest Service plans to conduct a series of prescribed burns over the next 3 – 6 weeks on a total of about 3,500 acres of the Nantahala Ranger District in the Nantahala National Forest.

The prescribed burn will take place in the following areas:

* Slip Off area, 190 acres, Swain County
* Rattlesnake Knob area, 248 acres, Macon County
* Alarka Laurel area, 697 acres, Swain County
* Dirty John area, 830 acres, Macon County
* Steeltrap Knob area, 872 acres, Macon County
* Pine Mtn. area, 704 acres, Macon County

The dates for each burn will be announced as they are decided and weather permitting.

The prescribed burns will reduce the amount of fuel on the forest floor, preventing catastrophic wildfire and reducing risks to nearby communities. Prescribed burning also helps improve forest health and wildlife habitat. Public safety is the highest priority during a prescribed burn.

You can click here to learn more about restoring fire to the mountains.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Great Smoky Mountains Plans Prescribed Burns This Spring

Friday, March 8, 2013

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Fire management officials at Great Smoky Mountains National Park have announced plans to conduct several prescribed burns across the park this spring including areas near Wears Valley, Lynn Hollow, and Cades Cove. The burns will occur between the months of March through May as weather conditions permit.

The prescribed burn near Wears Valley will occur over a 200-acre area just inside the Park south of Wears Valley in Sevier County, TN. A local wind event canceled the burn originally scheduled for November 2012. Closures for firefighter and public safety during burn operations include Wear Cove Gap Road from the Metcalf Bottoms bridge to the Park boundary at Wear Cove Gap along with Roundtop Trail. Prescribed burn operations are expected to take 2 days.

The Lynn Hollow prescribed burn will occur on park lands near Lake in the Sky and the Top of the World community in Blount County. The burn is planned for late March and will occur over a two day period as weather conditions permit. It is anticipated that residual smoke and mop-up activities could last for several days following burn operations. Temporary closures to Goldmine Trail and Cooper Road will be necessary during fire operations.

According to Fire Management Officer, Dave Loveland, "The Park conducts prescribed burns each year for a number of different objectives including hazard fuel reduction in the wildland urban interface and protection of natural resources. The use of prescribed fire helps decrease risks to life, property, and perpetuates the natural resource values for which the park was founded." The purpose of both these controlled burns is to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations in the vicinity of residential communities and to restore the diverse, yellow pine/hardwood forests.

Fire Management personnel also plan to continue controlled burning in Cades Cove early this spring as conditions permit. Since November, approximately 600 acres have been burned in the cove with another 200 acres planned.

According to Loveland, "The fields burned earlier this season look great and we have achieved all of our hazardous fuels and resource management objectives. We hope to continue and build on our earlier accomplishments."

Cades Cove Loop Road will remain open but visitors may experience brief delays due to smoke or other safety concerns as fire fighters work adjacent to roadways.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
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Prescribed Burns in Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests in 2013

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

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Forest Supervisor Kristin Bail with the National Forests in North Carolina today announced that the agency plans to restore between 8,000 and 10,000 acres of the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests in 2013 using prescribed burning.

“Fire has been part of Southern Appalachian forests for thousands of years, and we’ve learned that putting out every fire creates a buildup of forest debris, putting communities at risk and threatening forest health,” said Bail. “Using prescribed burns, we can mimic what would occur naturally and restore native trees and plants like table mountain pine and mountain golden heather, which are fire-tolerant.”

By using low- to medium-intensity prescribed burns, Forest Service employees plan to reduce overgrown vegetation and woody debris that could cause high-intensity wildfires that threaten lives, homes and public infrastructure. Catastrophic wildfires degrade forest health by scorching soils and killing many mature trees and other desirable plant species. Prescribed burning will result in healthier forests that are less congested, more biologically diverse and more resilient to threats from invasive plants and pests, such as southern pine beetle.

All prescribed burns are completed by trained wildand fire professionals in accordance with detailed plans, which include desired weather conditions and other strict safety parameters, as well as modeling to reduce the effects of smoke.

Scientists have found that fire has been a part of western North Carolina’s forests for at least 4,000 years and possibly up to 12,000 years. Lightning strikes ignited many fires, and Native Americans introduced prescribed burning to clear land and for regeneration purposes. European settlers continued the practice. These frequent, low-intensity fires shaped healthy forests in western North Carolina.

The USFS did not provide any information with regards to exact locations or timing concerning the burns.

For more information on prescribed burning in the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests, please click here.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
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Park to Conduct Prescribed Burns of Cades Cove Meadows

Monday, November 5, 2012

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Fire Management personnel at Great Smoky Mountains National Park plan to conduct a series of prescribed burns of fields in Cades Cove Monday through Friday, November 5th through 9th if weather conditions permit. Park managers plan to burn several tracts totaling about 570 acres.

The selected fields are being burned as part of a cost-effective strategy to prevent the open fields from being reclaimed by forest. The Park contracts to mow about 950 acres of fields that are clearly visible from the Cades Cove Loop Road twice a year. Other fields that are less visible from the Loop Road, totaling around 1,500 acres, are kept open by burning or mowing on a three year rotation. The seasonal prescribed burns encourage the growth of native warm-season grasses providing high quality cover and foraging opportunities for a diversity of wildlife including deer, turkeys, and ground nesting birds.

Without being either mowed or burned, the open meadows of the Cove would very quickly revert to pine and hardwood forest. That process would both alter the historically open landscape that characterized the Cove during its period of settlement and deprive Park visitors of the excellent wildlife viewing opportunities often found in the Cove.

The burn will be conducted by park Fire and Resource Management staff. Firefighters and fire engines will be assigned each day to ignite the grass lands and to make sure the fire stays within its designated boundaries. Strips of grass surrounding each field slated for burning have been mowed short to provide containment lines.  

Cades Cove Loop Road will remain open but visitors may experience brief delays due to smoke or other safety concerns as fire fighters work adjacent to roadways. "Motorists are asked to reduce speed in work zones and if smoke is present, keep windows up and headlights on," said Fire Management Officer Dave Loveland. "The public, of course, will notice smoke in the valley but it will dissipate quickly and not unduly impact their visit," he said.

Smokies officials are also planning a prescribed burn near Wears Valley for sometime between November 11th and 24th.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies
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Shenandoah National Park Plans Prescribed Burns for 2012

Monday, March 5, 2012

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Shenandoah National Park Fire Managers are planning several prescribed burns in the park this year. Ignition of prescribed fire is dependent on favorable weather conditions, and due to weather uncertainty, it is not possible to predict the exact dates for each burn.

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. The following burns are planned for this year:

• Big Meadows Prescribed Burn: A portion of Big Meadows, the open area across from Byrd Visitor Center, is burned each year. Between now and April, approximately 35-65 acres will be treated using controlled fire for the purpose of maintaining the open vista by preventing encroachment by trees and shrubs.

• Jarman Gap Prescribed Burn: Two sections totaling 508 acres will be burned over two to three days in the early spring. This prescribed burn is located in the South District from Sawmill Run Overlook to Jarman Gap. The burn is designed to improve habitat for yellow pine and oak communities which require fire to regenerate.

• HQ RAWS Field Prescribed Burn: Approximately one acre located at park headquarters will be treated with controlled fire in order to reduce woody plants in the vicinity of one of the park's Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS).

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.






Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Prescribed Burn in McDowell County to temporarily close three trails

Sunday, March 4, 2012

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The U.S. Forest Service plans to implement a prescribed burn on Singecat Ridge in McDowell County between now and late March, depending on the weather. The prescribed burn could occur as early as Tuesday, March 6.

The Forest Service’s Grandfather Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest plans to burn approximately 2,000 acres on National Forest land and around 100 acres on Blue Ridge Parkway land. The center of the burn unit will be approximately 10 miles northwest of the city of Marion. The boundary of the burn is the Blue Ridge Parkway to the north, Bee Rock Creek also on the north above the Armstrong Fish Hatchery, Highway 80 on the west, and Singecat Branch and Armstrong Creek on the east.

This is the first prescribed burn conducted under the Grandfather Restoration Project. Last month, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announced $605,000 in Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration program funding for the project.

Woods Mountain Trail #218, Armstrong Creek Trail #223, and Bad Fork Trail #204 will be closed for the duration of the project, which may last up to five days to provide for visitor safety.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Prescribed burns scheduled for Pisgah National Forest

Saturday, November 19, 2011

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This week the USDA Forest Service in North Carolina announced plans to conduct prescribed burns near the areas of Max Patch and Harmon Den in Haywood County, as well as near Dobson Knob in Burke County. All three burns will occur between now and early December, depending on the weather.

The Forest Service’s Appalachian Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest plans to burn a total of 950 acres on National Forest land in two separate prescribed burns.

The Forest Service will burn approximately 500 acres in the Cherry Creek area. The boundary is Harmon Den Road to Cherry Creek Trail.

A 450-acre prescribed fire is scheduled to occur in Max Patch. The boundary line will be Max Patch Road to Buckeye Ridge Horse Trail.

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 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 burns will reduce the amount of hazardous fuels in the forest, improve wildlife habitat, and maintain fire-dependent and fire-adapted species.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Controlled burns in Cades Cove this week

Monday, November 7, 2011

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If weather permits, the Great Smoky Mountains will be conducting prescribed burns in Cades Cove between Monday and Thursday of this week. The Loop Road will remain open, but delays may be possible. Fires may be visible from the roadway and visitors may encounter smoke in the valley and along the roadway. Temporary closures of the Primitive Baptist Church, the Methodist Church, and Abrams Fall trailhead are also possible.

Also, as a reminder, the Cades Cove Loop Road will be closed for two days during the week of November 28 - December 2 for hemlock woolly adelgid spraying. Spray operations are weather dependent. Exact dates will be posted once they are determined.

Please click here for more information.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Smokies to Conduct Prescribed Burns in Cades Cove Next Week

Friday, October 28, 2011

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Fire managers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park plan to conduct a series of prescribed burns of fields in Cades Cove on Tuesday through Friday, November 1st through 4th if weather conditions permit. Park managers plan to burn several tracts totaling about 550 acres.

The selected fields are being burned as part of a cost-effective strategy to prevent the open fields from being reclaimed by forest. The Park contracts to mow about 950 acres of fields that are clearly visible from the Cades Cove Loop Road twice a year. Other fields that are less visible from the Loop Road, totaling around 1,500 acres, are kept open by burning or mowing on a three year rotation.

Without being either mowed or burned, the open meadows of the Cove would very quickly revert to pine and hardwood forest. That process would both alter the historically open landscape which characterized the Cove during its period of settlement, and deprive Park visitors of the excellent wildlife viewing opportunities that the Cove affords.

The burn will be conducted by the members of the Great Smoky Wildland Fire Module and the Cumberland Gap Wildland Fire Module, with additional resources from Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The Fire Modules are National Park Service teams which travel throughout the Southeast to conduct prescribed burns on National Park Service units as well as other federal lands. Firefighters and a Park engine will be assigned each day to ignite the grass lands and to make sure the fire stays within its prescribed boundaries. Strips of grass surrounding each field slated for burning have been mowed short to provide containment lines.

"At this point we do not expect to have to close the Cades Cove Loop Road, but will monitor the situation for smoke or other safety hazards," said Great Smoky Wildland Fire Module Supervisor, Shane Paxton. "The public, of course, will notice smoke in the valley but it will dissipate quickly and not unduly impact their visit," he said.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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More prescribed burns for Pisgah National Forest

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

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The U.S. Forest Service announced two new prescribed burns for Western North Carolina this morning.

The Grandfather Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest is planning to implement prescribed burns near Lake James and Dobson Knob in McDowell County. The two burns will likely take place between now and mid April depending on the weather. The burn near Lake James is approximately 1,950 acres and will be implemented in conjunction with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The Dobson Knob burn is approximately 2,350 acres and is completely on National Forest lands. The purpose of the burns is to reduce the amount of hazardous fuels in the forest, improve wildlife habitat, and maintain fire-dependent and fire-adapted species.

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.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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Prescribed Burns Planned for Shenandoah and Big South Fork

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

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A series of prescribed burns are scheduled for Shenandoah National Fork and the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area over the next several weeks.

Prescribed burns are fires ignited on purpose by managers under a pre-determined set of conditions, called a prescription, in order to accomplish specific resource management objectives. The prescription includes weather, fuel moisture, and resource availability parameters.

Shenandoah National Park Fire Managers are planning the following burns for this year:

• Big Meadows: Portions of Big Meadows, the open area across from Byrd Visitor Center, are burned each year. In February, March or April, approximately 35 acres will be burned in the western portion of the field for the purpose of maintaining the open vista by preventing encroachment by woody species.

• Vista Maintenance: As part of an ongoing project, the park will use fire to maintain open vistas by preventing encroachment by woody species at many scenic locations along Skyline Drive. Park staff plan to burn three to four vistas this year.

• Jarman Gap Prescribed Burn: Two sections totaling 508 acres over two to three days in the early spring. This controlled burn is located in the South District from Sawmill Run Overlook to Jarman Gap. Its purpose is to improve habitat for yellow pine and oak communities which require fire to propagate.

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During the next 6-8 weeks, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area fire crews will also be conducting a series of prescribed fires. Plans call for burns varying in size from 38 to 2,080 acres to occur at locations within park boundaries in both Kentucky and Tennessee. Ignitions are scheduled to occur in March and April when conditions are appropriate. For more information, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com
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