North Carolina Wildlife Commission Conducts Prescribed Burn in Wake County Today
OutdoorHub 02.05.13
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is conducting a prescribed burn on Butner-Falls of the Neuse Game Land in the Triangle area today. Wildlife Commission staff will burn 94 acres around Falls Lake in Wake County. Ignition will start midday and the burn will conclude by 5 p.m.
The prescribed burns will help improve wildlife habitat, restore the natural ecosystem, and reduce brush and debris accumulation to help prevent wildfires. Residents in Wake County may see smoke today from the prescribed burns.
“Reducing the threat of wildfires is important in North Carolina because our state ranks fifth nationally in the number of homes in wooded areas susceptible to wildfires,” said Chris Dawes,the Wildlife Commission’s piedmont eco-region supervisor. “Periodic fire is essential to North Carolina’s natural ecosystems because the fire consumes plant matter that releases nutrients, which increase plant productivity. In turn, the plants provide habitat and food for wildlife.”
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission trains, plans and coordinates with local fire services before a prescribed fire is started. Commission staff follows a detailed burning plan based on weather conditions to ensure burning regulations are obeyed.
“All efforts will be made to reduce impacts to local residents,” Dawes said. “Today’s prescribed burn is the first of the season. We plan to burn approximately 2,000 acres around Falls and Jordan lakes this burning season between now and mid-May.”
More information on prescribed burns can be found in the publication “Using Fire to Improve Wildlife Habitat.”
