Prescribed Burn Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

New River Gorge National Park Plans Grassland Burn

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Fire Managers plan to burn approximately five acres in the coming weeks.

This planned fire, also called a prescribed burn, is intended to maintain native grassland habitat that provides food and nesting space for birds and other wildlife. It also discourages the spread of invasive species.

The burn will take place sometime between Feb. 19 and March 31, based on weather conditions such as wind speed, direction and humidity. Before implementing the burn, the fire manager will evaluate current conditions and will only begin ignition if the prescribed conditions are within those parameters.

The prescribed burn area is located just north of I-64, and Route 20 interchange (Exit 139). The Sandstone Visitor Center and parking lot will be closed during the burn but will reopen after completion and safety clearance. Travelers on Summers County Rt. 7, Meadow Creek Road, may experience temporary delays during firing operations and smoke will be visible for a short duration. The burn is expected to take several hours to complete.

Monongahela National Forest Prepares For Prescribed Burn Season

Staff at the Monongahela National Forest are preparing to conduct prescribed burns in the area through June.

Prescribed burns are planned fires meant to maintain a forest’s health and prevent overgrowth. They help improve habitats by removing invasive species, recycling nutrients into the soil and providing forage for wild game. It also helps to prevent more dangerous wildfires.

“What we’re doing is we’re trying to reestablish fire’s natural role in forest ecosystems,” Monongahela National Forest Fire and Fuel Planner Conor Shanahan said.

The areas scheduled for prescribed burns include units in Pendleton, Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties, totaling 1,251 acres.

The areas include:

Big Mountain Unit 9 and 10 in Pendleton County
Chestnut Ridge North/South Savanna Units 1 and 2 in Pocahontas County
Hopkins Units A, B and C in Greenbrier County
Brushy Mountain Units B2, B4 and B6 in Greenbrier County

These areas will be closed off during the day of the burn, and may be closed during the few days after for public safety.

“Our burns might be seen by the public but usually we post signs on roads the day of or the day before burning,” Shanahan said. “People may see or smell smoke, but besides that, they wouldn’t really have much encounters with any of our burning corps or fire.”

No specific dates have been announced as burns are scheduled for days with specific weather conditions and could be delayed because of temperature, humidity, smoke dispersion and wind.

Information and maps about the burnings will be available online when they begin.

Monongahela National Forest Burns On Schedule

Residents around parts of the Monongahela National Forest may be smelling smoke this week thanks to the Forest Service’s spring prescribed burns.

National Park Service employees burned more than 1500 acres of park land Tuesday north of White Sulfur Springs to improve forest health and reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires.

Per a press release from the Monongahela National Forest, the controlled burn will improve wildlife habitat by re-establish fire’s natural role in the forest ecosystem and creating conditions that favor oak reproduction, as well as open fields and brushy habitat.

Traditionally, controlled burns have helped maintain West Virginia ecosystems, but their use declined significantly in the 20th century. According to the National Association of State Foresters and the Coalition of Prescribed Fire Councils, prescribed burns have increased 28 percent from 2011 to 2019.

The Monongahela National Forest plans to conduct prescribed burns on nearly 3000 acres in Greenbrier and Pendleton counties from March through June, weather permitting.

Burn areas will be closed to the public on the day of the burn and may be closed for several days after to ensure public safety.

Residents and forest visitors may see and smell smoke for several days. Park service employees caution drivers, when they encounter smoke on the highway to slow down, turn on your vehicle’s lights and drive appropriately for the conditions.

Prescribed Burn Planned for Parts of Monongahela National Forest

Prescribed burning is planned for the Hopkins Knob area of Greenbrier County on Sunday, April 29.

According to a news release issued by the U. S. Forest Service, two helicopters and up to 60 firefighters and support staff will be on hand to assist with the prescribed burn inside the in the Monongahela National Forest.

Burning will occur only if weather conditions are favorable.

More information, including maps and photos, can be found on the webpage here.