The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted another prescribed burn in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on the Dare County mainland on Saturday.
Plans were to burn 2,800 acres along U.S. 264 near Pamlico Road and the entrance of the Air Force bombing range. After getting initial fires started using a helicopter, a technical issue on board the chopper led the crews to call an audible.
Prescribed burns within the area’s wildlife refuges and on privately-owned land serve multiple purposes, depending on the time of year.
Generally occurring in the spring and fall, the burns can enhance safety in case of a future wildfire, control vegetation, and create more desirable habitats for migratory birds.
