The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it would burn over 110,500 acres in Alabama’s national forests in the coming weeks and months. The agency sent a warning saying the public would notice smoke in some areas.
The prescribed burns will be in the Bankhead, Conecuh, Talladega and Tuskegee parks over the next six months.
“Prescribed burns are low-intensity, prescribed fires ignited by trained personnel to remove excess fuels, such as vegetation and dead wood, that would enable wildfires to burn hotter and longer,” the USDA said in a statement. “Applying prescribed fire on the land at the right place, at the right time, under the right conditions benefits the land and the surrounding communities.”
The following list shows where the burns will take place:
•Bankhead National Forest is planning to burn 21,500 acres in Winston and Lawrence Counties, call the office at 205-489-5111.
• Conecuh National Forest is planning to burn 41,586 acres in Escambia and Covington Counties, call 334-222-2555.
•Talladega National Forest- Talladega and Shoal Creek Districts are planning to burn 40,000 acres in Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne and Talladega Counties, call the Heflin office at 256-463-2272 or the Talladega office at 256-362-2909.
•Talladega National Forest - Oakmulgee District is planning to burn 35,000 acres in Bibb, Dallas, Perry, Tuscaloosa, Hale, and Chilton Counties, call 205-926-9765.
•Tuskegee National Forest is planning to burn 4,000 acres in Macon County, call 334-727-2652.
Special equipment will be brought into the burn areas to minimize smoke impacts. However, drivers are advised to use low-beam lights if they encounter smoke.
Follow the Forest Service – National Forests in Alabama on Facebook or Twitter for prescribed burn notifications, or visit the agency’s website at www.fs.usda.gov/alabama under the “Know Before You Go” section.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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