CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Prescribed fires are being lit in about 20,000 acres of the Cherokee National Forest this spring.
U.S. Forest Service officials say prescribed fire is a tool for managing forest lands.
Cherokee National Forest spokesman Terry McDonald said about 12,000 acres in the forest’s southern districts are scheduled to be burned. The forest service now is burning about 5,000 acres in Monroe and Polk counties, and the remaining fires are scheduled over the next month, Mr. McDonald said.
He said the word “fire” creates visions of devastation and waste, but prescribed fires actually lessen wildfires by burning tinder under controlled conditions.
Prescribed fires reduce vegetation that can intensify fires, clear soil for seeding and promote new sprout growth that serves as food for wildlife, forest management officials said. It also helps eliminate unwanted plant species and controls disease and insects.
Assistant Fire Management Officer Marty Bently said weather conditions are monitored before and during the burn.
“At any point during a prescribed burn a decision can be made to stop burning if conditions are not right,” he said.
Weather is a major factor in whether a burn achieves the desired results, Mr. Bently said.
“Because of changing weather conditions it is tough to say exactly what days we will be burning,” he said. “However, the next several weeks should provide us with a number of days of ideal burning conditions. Of course we really won't know until the day before we burn in many cases. We routinely notify the public in the area so they will be aware of what is going on.”
He said growing conditions in East Tennessee allow burned areas to quickly “green up.” Often, he said, visitors don’t even know that the prescribed fire has occurred.
Some environmental groups oppose prescription burning, but forest officials say they believe it is a positive action for the forest and a safety factor against uncontrolled fires.
The Cherokee National Forest covers 640,000 acres in East Tennessee.
TO LEARN MORE
To find out where prescribed fires are scheduled, call one of the following Ranger District offices: Ocoee/Hiwassee, (423) 338-3300; Tellico/Hiwassee, (423) 253-2520; Nolichucky/Unaka, (423) 638-4109; Watauga, (423) 735-1500.
