Gainesville, Ga. - Starting this January, fire managers on the Chattahoochee National Forest have prescribed fire plans on approximately 33, 000 acres to improve the health of the national forest, benefit wildlife and help prevent dangerous wildfires.
The number of acres that will actually be treated depends upon very specific conditions. These conditions include temperatures, wind speed and direction, moisture levels of woody debris on the ground, and predictions for how smoke might disperse. When precise conditions are met, crews implement, monitor, and patrol each burn to ensure it meets the forest health and public safety goals outlined by fire managers. Most of these prescribed fire treatments will end by mid-April.
Residents and visitors can expect to see and smell small to moderate amounts of smoke during burning operations. To minimize the smoke impact, fire managers will work to end ignitions by 3 p.m.. Residual smoke may linger overnight, settling into valley areas.
"Prescribed fires come with vehicle traffic, firefighters at work, and smoke that can all impact forest users and our communities," said Mike Davis, Fire Management Officer for the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. "Before each and every burn we include these concerns in our decisions so that we can minimize the unavoidable impacts, such as smoke, as much as possible."
Key goals for prescribed fire include continuing efforts to improve forest health, enhance public safety, and return fire to the mountains. Additionally, prescribed fire lowers the risk of severe wildfires on the forest during critical summer fire conditions by reducing forest debris and dense stands of trees.
"Defensible space is very important in areas where the forest meets businesses and homes," Davis added. "We all have a role to play in keeping our forests healthy and our communities safe."
For fire information, maps, and updates 24 hours-a-day, visit:
Fire maps: go.usa.gov/JX93
Follow the national forest on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ChattOconeeNF
Text message: text 'follow chattoconeenf' to 40404
Smart phone app: go.usa.gov/Jwgh
Air quality monitoring information: www.georgiaair.org
Prescribed fire plans by Ranger District and Priority-
Chattooga River Ranger District:
(#1) Davidson Creek
1041
10 miles NW of Toccoa, GA off Black Mtn. Rd.
(#2) Chestnut Mountain
799
10 miles NW of Persimmon, GA
(#3) Licklog
968
20 miles NE of Clayton, GA along FSR 7
(#4) Farmer Bottoms
797
10 miles E of Cornelia, GA
(#4) Browns Bottoms
523
10 miles E of Cornelia, GA
(#5) Hale Ridge East
834
20 miles E of Clayton, GA off Pool Creek Rd.
Blue Ridge Ranger District:
Project Name
Acres
Location
(#1) Brawley Units C & E
249
10 miles SE of Morgantown, GA along FSR 95
(#2) Spencer Mountain
1502
10 miles SW of Blairsville, GA in Coopers Creek WMA
(#3) Addie Gap
551
10 miles SW of Blairsville, GA in Coopers Creek WMA
(#3) Duncan Ridge/ Bryant Creek
1757
10 miles SW of Blairsville, GA in Coopers Creek WMA
(#4) Little Rock Creek
1213
20 miles SW of Blairsville, GA near Rock Creek Rd.
(#5) Puncheon Gap
2474
15 miles NW of Dahlonega, GA near Hightower Gap Rd.
Conasauga Ranger District:
(#1) Mac White Gap
563
3 miles E of Trion, GA near Subligna Rd.
(#2) Narrows
1086
3 miles E of Trion, GA near Narrow Rd.
(#3) Ruff Creek
567
3 miles E of Trion, GA near Narrow Rd.
(#4) Dry Slough
706
3 miles E of Trion, GA near Narrow Rd.
(#5) Rocky Ridge
229
5 miles E of Lafayette, GA near HWY 219
The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
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