Forest To Be Burned

The U.S. Forest Service is planning prescribed burns on approximately 15,000 to 20,000 in Putnam, Jones, Jasper, Greene and Oglethorpe Counties. Most of the burning will take place from November through mid-April, but some summer burning may take place.

Forest Service personnel will closely monitor and make sure the smoke dispersals go well, and weather will be monitored through the burn period hourly. The wind direction dictates the areas burned, so that the impact from the smoke is kept at a minimum, according to the Forest Service announcement.

“Fire is vital to the life cycles of the forest lands and maintains the natural ecosystem,” said the announcement. “Prescribed fire reduces the dense understory and is good forest health management for the wildlife and plant community.”

Another benefit of prescribed fire is to reduce the fuel loadings of dead wood and underbrush in order to prevent uncontrolled fire. The prescribed fires are low intensity and carefully monitored.

The announcement asked that individuals with asthma or other respiratory problems aggravated by smoke call the office so that their names will be on a contact list for advance notification of burning in their area.

Contact Bill Nightingale, district ranger, 706-485-7110, or District Fire Management Officer Tony Wild, 706-485-7110 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.