The Southern Research Station of the USDA Forest Service has identified a general time that it plans to conduct a prescribed burn for research purposes on the Bent Creek Experimental Forest near Lake Powhatan, southwest of Asheville.
If weather conditions remain safe, the Forest Service says it will conduct the burn operation sometime during the week of July 25. Weather conditions may change at any time; the exact date of the prescribed fire cannot be predicted, as operators follow a checklist routine to determine whether it is safe to conduct the research burn.
The Forest Service will do everything possible to reduce the amount of smoke. Nearby residents with health issues may need to stay indoors with windows closed for the day of the burn.
The agency says that safety is its No. 1 priority. The Forest Service asks Bent Creek visitors to heed posted signs, stay out of the burn area and stay off closed trails and roads.
For more information, see our earlier story on this subject here, or contact Zoe Hoyle at the Southern Research Station at 257-4388.
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