County Line Prescribed Burn (Prescribed Fire)

This fall Monongahela National Forest officials plan to conduct a prescribed burn on 435 acres of National Forest System land in the County Line Prescribed Burn Area, north of Sue and Camp Wood in Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties.   Why do we burn? Reintroducing fire into the forest will: Restore historic fire regimesImprove wildlife habitatEnhance forest structure and age diversityImprove oak regenerationControl tree diseases and insectsReduce hazardous fuel levels   How do we manage a prescribed burn? Fire managers prepare a burn plan for each prescribed burn describing the appropriate conditions needed to conduct the burn safely and achieve the desired results. Burn plans consider public safety, protection of private property, staffing and equipment needs, temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation, and conditions for the dispersal of smoke. Appropriate conditions must be met before igniting prescribed burns. A control line is established around each burn area…