NEW RELEASE - Fall Prescribed Burning in the National Forests in Alabama - Utilizing prescribed fire can protect communities and other values, improve habitat, and restore ecological balance to landscapes by reducing vegetation buildup on the landscape.

 News Release from the USDA Forest Service. Contact: Public Affairs Office, Tammy Brown / 334-315-4926, Sheila Holifield/334-235-5494, Email:pa_alabama@usda.gov

Fall Prescribed Burning in the National Forests in Alabama

MONTGOMERY, AL, November 23, 2020 ---- This fall season, fire management experts with the USDA Forest Service are conducting controlled prescribed burns on the National Forests in Alabama.  These burns are conducted for the purpose of reducing potential for large wildfires, decreasing unwanted vegetation and to improve the overall health of your national forests in Alabama.  Fire managers expect a limited window of suitable weather to conduct prescribed burns. They are asking the public to check the National Forests in Alabama’s Facebook page for the latest updates regarding any planned burns. 

 

Prescribed burning is only conducted when factors such as resource availability, air quality, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, and fuel moisture levels are ideal. All burns are done under carefully planned prescriptions and protocols to eliminate the risk of an escaped fire and smoke exposure to communities.

 "Our prescribed burning program is a targeted approach to reducing flammable vegetation on the landscape known as 'fuels' that build up on the forest floor and can feed large wildfires. Reducing these fuels can also reduce future smoke impacts in our communities," said Joe Smith, forest fire management officer with the National Forests in Alabama. "This year's historic wildfire season in the Northwest and Mountain Region of the United States has highlighted the importance of proper forest management and the use of fire on a prescribed basis is an important part of that management.”

Prescribed burning is one method of reducing hazardous fuels and helps reduce wildfire risk to communities, enhances wildlife habitats, recycles nutrients that increase soil productivity and overall increases resiliency of treated forests to endure wildfire effects. Since prescribed burn operations are planned in advance, they have critical safety components in place and are carefully designed to occur within a combination of natural and constructed control lines. In 2020, we have increased coordination measures regarding COVID-19 mitigation.

 

During a prescribed burn, some smoke may be visible around the burn areas. When smoke is present, motorists should reduce speeds and turn on headlights. Exact dates will depend on weather and moisture conditions that best allow the appropriate level of burn intensity, and smoke management to meet objectives.