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Prescribed Fire Brings Life to the Wayne National Forest
Release Date: Oct 11, 2019
Contact(s): Dawn McCarthy, Public Affairs Officer
Burn Window: Approximately Oct. 13 through Dec. 31, 2019
NELSONVILLE, Ohio (Oct. 7, 2019) – Fire helps maintain healthy oak forests, according to scientists who study native plants, birds, and other wildlife. That’s why the Wayne National Forest uses fire as a tool to restore southern Ohio forests.
“Fire is a tool we have been using in this area for well over a decade. The results are there to see. The areas that have experienced fire are more open, have different plant species, and have a lot more oak seedlings coming up when compared to adjacent unburned areas,” said Athens District Ranger Jason Reed.
Prescribed fire is a planned fire that is overseen by professional firefighters. Fall marks the beginning of the forest’s prescribed burn season, during which professionals plan to burn up to 1872 acres between Oct.13 and Dec. 31, 2019, on the Athens Ranger District. The burn area is as follows:
Long Ridge Prescribed Burn
Size: Approximately 1872 acres
Location: Hocking County, near the following areas: Buchtel and Murray City, Nelsonville-York High School, and adjacent to State Route 78.
Prescribed fires are performed under specific weather conditions. The Wayne National Forest follows strict guidelines for conducting prescribed burns, and uses environmental factors including temperature, humidity, atmosphere stability, wind direction, wind speed, and smoke dispersion. If any of these conditions are not within limits, the burns will be postponed.
Through the use of prescribed fire, the Wayne National Forest hopes to accomplish these goals:
- Encourage the growth of a diverse array of plant life, including sun-loving plants and grasses.
- Ensure oaks remain the keystone species in our forests. Oaks provide food for many different animals. Using fire to bring light into our forests helps oaks grow. Without fire, shade-tolerant species will take over and eventually replace oak as the dominant species in our forest.
- Protect human property by reducing the amount of down, dead wood in the forest. That way if a wildfire happens, it would be less intense, and potentially easier to control.
- Perpetuate oak barrens and woodlands found within the forest. These remnant plant communities provide habitat for several early successional species. Maintaining these open
woodland conditions with prescribed fire increases biodiversity in both plant and animal species.
View maps and the progress of the prescribed burns online by visiting https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6617/. To learn more about prescribed burning on the Wayne, contact the Wayne National Forest Public Affairs Office at (740) 753-0862.