The USDA Forest Service is undertaking a spring prescribed burn today on Warm Springs Ranger District in Bath County, Virginia. The burn will treat 180 acres near Bath County, adjacent to Highway 42, Cowpasture River Highway. There will be a scheduled closure on Beards Mountain Trail and potential smoke impacts to the community of Warm Springs. For the public’s safety, please follow posted signs. Depending on the wind direction, residents and travelers in these areas may see or smell smoke. Prescribed burns improve wildlife habitat by restoring open woodlands and grassland conditions on the forest landscape. Safety is the Forest Service’s top priority, and Forest Service fire managers will conduct a prescribed burn in the following area only under appropriate weather conditions.
Experienced fire managers will closely monitor local weather conditions, such as wind and humidity, and adjust the schedule as needed to ensure the safety of both crewmembers and residents. Prior to lighting the burn, crews construct and designate firebreaks to ensure the fire does not leave the burn area.
The burn will mimic historic natural fire as much as possible and will mainly consume brush and dead herbaceous vegetation. For more information follow us here or on %3A!–StartFragment–%3Aour Facebook website page. %3A!–EndFragment–%3A