North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council, Inc. PO Box 37434 Raleigh, NC 27627 ncprescribedfirecouncil.org Contact: Debbie Crane (919) 794-4373 or (919) 619-8613 Wildfire in the Gorge Highlights the Need for Prescribed Fire BURKE COUNTY, N.C. – The U.S. Forest Service announced yesterday that approximately 40 U.S. Forest Service firefighters and others are working to contain a 100-acre wildfire in the Linville Gorge Wilderness area of the Grandfather Ranger District, Pisgah National Forest. The Table Rock Mountain Fire is about one-quarter mile southwest of Table Rock Mountain in the east-central part of the Gorge. Many of the hazardous fuels that are in the area have accumulated over time due to a departure from the natural fire regime across the landscape. The U.S. Forest Service had hoped to conduct a prescribed burn in Burke County yesterday to help reduce these fuels but had the foresight to postpone it due to the weather conditions; highlighting the caution that is taken whenever a prescribed burn is planned. Conducting these burns during safe conditions, such as low wind and moderate humidity, are essential to not only preventing larger or even catastrophic wildfires, but also to bring balance to the forest ecosystem. Fire helps reduce insect populations, open up areas for wildlife, decrease populations of non-native plants, and add nutrients to the soil. Historically, low intensity fires occurred approximately every three to seven years across the state, including in the Gorge. With more people living in or near our state’s forested areas, wildfires often need to be suppressed to prevent losses. Conversely, prescribed fire can mimic the natural low intensity fire that was once so prevalent across the state. These low intensity controlled burns help to protect homes and lives by reducing the buildup of forest fuels while simultaneously improving the health of the forest. The N.C. Prescribed Fire Council supports the use of prescribed fire by the U.S. Forest Service and all parties that utilize it responsibly for the benefit of North Carolina’s forests. ###
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 15:55:09 +0000