Forest Service plans controlled burn in Cherokee Forest

A dirt road leads to the Fodder Stack Trail of the Citico Creek Wilderness in the Cherokee National Forest on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, in Monroe County, Tenn. SAWS works exclusively with manual tools to maintain wilderness trails where gasoline-powered equipment is not allowed.
A dirt road leads to the Fodder Stack Trail of the Citico Creek Wilderness in the Cherokee National Forest on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, in Monroe County, Tenn. SAWS works exclusively with manual tools to maintain wilderness trails where gasoline-powered equipment is not allowed.

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (AP) -- The U.S. Forest Service plans a controlled burn in part of Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee.

The agency says the public is asked to pay attention to signs posted at various locations and stay away from burn areas.

The burn is planned in the southern portion of the forest on Friday, depending on weather conditions.

The location includes 1,605 acres in Monroe County about six miles northeast of Coker Creek and seven miles southeast of Tellico Plains.

The Forest Service says smoke may be visible in surrounding areas and from Highways 68 and 165.

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