If you notice a column of smoke northeast of Gainesville toward Cornelia today and Monday, no need to be alarmed.
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) will be conducting a “prescribed burn” on nearly 2,000 acres of the Chattahoochee National Forest. The affected area is five miles northeast of Cornelia, in pink on the accompanying map.
Here is the full text of the USFS alert issued Saturday morning:
| Today the Chattooga River Ranger District will be conducting prescribed fire operations to improve wildlife habitat, enhance forest health and remove hazardous fuels such as leaf litter, dead vegetation, and debris. The 1,986-acre Georgia Mountain Orchard prescribed burn unit is located along the Habersham/Stephens County line within the Lake Russell Wildlife Management Area. The burn unit is approximately 5 miles west of Cornelia. U.S. Forest Service fire managers will be assisted by The Nature Conservancy and AmeriCorps fire crews. Today, fire managers will burn between 100-200 acres and then complete the remaining portion of this 1,986 acre unit on Monday. The area contains the rare Georgia Aster, a native wildflower species which needs sunlight to grow and thrive. Prescribed burning helps provide the necessary sunny habitat by top reducing competing shrubs, saplings, and other woody vegetation. According to the Georgia Native Plant Society the primary controlling factor for its occurrence seems to be the availability of sunlight. View enlargeable map: https://arcg.is/1nir4y1 Motorists are advised to use caution if they encounter smoke or impaired vision on any nearby roadways. |
| Learn more: Prescribed fire science: Why it’s needed now more than ever Find more info about how the Forest Service in Georgia manages the land with prescribed fire and discover ways to stay in-the-know with all our planned burn projects at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/conf/fire. |