Nicholas Xiques shared photos of today’s prescribed burn of marsh along the Currituck Sound near The Currituck Club in Corolla.
The goals of the burn are to benefit the coastal marsh environment, improve wildlife habitat and reduce fuels in areas where homes and structures are at risk in the event of a wildfire. The burn is one of many planned for the area during 2021.
Regular burns promote the growth of marsh grasses, suppress woody vegetation and prevent closure of small waters holes critical for waterfowl, according to the N.C. Forest Service.
All prescribed burns are thoroughly planned and analyzed by a team of specialists to ensure that wildlife, fisheries, rare plants, and historic sites are not harmed. Wind and relative humidity are key factors in fire behavior, safety and smoke control. Prescribed burning will only occur when environmental conditions permit.
Prescribed fire is the planned use of fire under predetermined weather and fuel parameters to obtain specific management objectives. Many of our forest ecosystems require fire to remain healthy and thrive. This is a critical management tool that benefits forests and wildlife and helps reduce the impact of wildfire hazards in North Carolina.
With 13.5 million acres, North Carolina leads the nation in wildland urban interface, which is where human development meets undeveloped wildland, forest or vegetative fuels.
To learn more about the benefits of prescribed fire, visit www.ncforestservice.gov/goodfire.
