Prescribed burns planned for national forests
Over the next few months, prescribed burns will be conducted on all four of North Carolina’s national forests.
The U.S. Forest Service will notify the public when a controlled burn is planned for a specific area, but burning days are subject to change because proper weather conditions are important for safe burning. The Forest Service is required to meet state air quality requirements and will conduct smoke modeling to reduce unpleasant smoke impacts.
Trails and roads may be closed the day before the prescribed burn, and the public should heed any posted closure notices.
Prescribed burns are used to improve wildlife habitat and reduce the risk of wildfire by preventing the buildup of fuels on the forest floor. Burned areas may be unsightly at first but swiftly green up to provide ample vegetation for wildlife communities.
