N.C. Forest Service Conducts Controlled Burn

Feb. 07--If you were riding out in Wilson County near Landfill and Tarts Mill Road Wednesday afternoon, you probably saw a cloud of smoke over the trees.

But members of the North Carolina Forest Service said the smoke is a prescribed burn and there was nothing to worry about.

Rob Litford, assistant district forester, said cool weather is the best time for them to do this kind of burn.

"We do this burn to reduce the fuel load," Litford explained. "If we had a wildfire and we did not have the prescribed burn, the damage stands a chance to be a lot worse and so would the heat from the fire."

Litford said the controlled fire is science at work.

He said they have to look at all the variables to make sure the smoke will lift up the way it is supposed to and not stay in the canopy to do damage to people and wildlife.

Litford said having the burn is also good for wildlife.

He said the fire kills out overgrown plants and getting rid of the pine straw that won't allow new seeds to germinate and cause more trees to grow.

"Some of those plants may be 15 feet high, which is too high for deer," Litford said. "With the burn the plant will grow and deer will be able to reach the plants."

He said the burn allows some annual weeds to grow also, and birds such as quail feed on those plants.

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