Controlled Burning in Hammonton
The New Jersey State Forest Fire Service is conducting some controlled burning in Hammonton. This is causing some smoke to move into the surrounding townships
Prescribed or controlled burning (back burning) is necessary to prevent a build up of dangerous fuel loads in the forest. It is also a technique used in forest management, farming, prairie restoration or greenhouse gas abatement. Fire is a natural part of both forest and grassland ecology and controlled fire can be a tool for foresters. Controlled burning stimulates the germination of some desirable forest trees, thus renewing the forest. Some seeds, such as sequoia, remain dormant until fire breaks down the seed coating.
Maris Gabliks, the state fire warden, said prescribed burns are taking place by Batsto Village and other section of Wharton State Forest within Atlantic, Camden and Burlington counties, Greenwood and Stafford Forge wildlife management areas in Ocean County, and Coyle Field on Route 72 on the Burlington and Ocean county border.
“The bottom line is this is prime prescribe burn season right now. We got favorable weather (with) cool temperatures, haven’t had any rain in several days and we got light winds,” Gabliks said. The prescribed burning started on Friday and other places where underbrush and other forest fire fuels were removed include Brendan T. Byrne and Bass River state forests in Burlington County and Allaire State Park in Monmouth County.
Gabliks said October to February are the peak months for prescribed burns because the relatively cold weather lets the forest service control the severity of the fire. The service’s goal is to remove about 20,000 acres of brush and other possible forest fire tinder between the ground and tree canopies that can intensify wildlifes, he said.
The spring wildfire season starts in March.
For complete coverage, see Tuesday's edition of The Press of Atlantic City.
This story was taken from the news source stated above. It is not necessarily the opinion of The Elwood Fire Vol Company or it's members.
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The New Jersey Forest Fire Service burned several thousand acres of woods from Friday to Monday as part of a prescribed forest burning to protect against wildfires by reducing potential fuel.
Maris Gabliks, the state fire warden, said Monday's prescribed burns took place near Batsto Village and other sections of Wharton State Forest within Atlantic, Camden and Burlington counties, the Greenwood and Stafford Forge wildlife management areas in Ocean County, and Coyle Field on Route 72 on the Burlington and Ocean county border.
"The bottom line is this is prime prescribed-burn season right now. We got favorable weather (with) cool temperatures, haven't had any rain in several days and we got light winds," Gabliks said.
The prescribed burning started Friday. Other places where underbrush and other forest-fire fuels were removed include Brendan T. Byrne and Bass River state forests in Burlington County and Allaire State Park in Monmouth County. Gablik said the prescribed burns will continue until Thursday, weather permitting, and the public should be aware.
Gabliks said October to February are the peak months for prescribed burns because the relatively cold weather lets the forest service control the severity of the fire. The forest service's goal for the year is to remove about 20,000 acres of brush and other possible forest-fire tinder between the ground and tree canopies that can intensify wildfires, he said.
The spring wildfire season starts in March.
This story was taken from the news source stated above. It is not necessarily the opinion of The Elwood Fire Vol Company or it's members.
