Prescribed burn slated at Hanging Rock State Park

The N.C. Forest Service and the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation will conduct a prescribed burn in Hanging Rock State Park this winter to reduce the risk of wildfire.

Prescribed-burn managers are hoping to conduct a burn on about 250 acres, in January or February in the Flat Shoals Mountain area.

The burn will be dependent on the right weather conditions to minimize the likelihood of the burn escaping containment lines or causing smoke in nearby communities, said Stokes County Forest Ranger Jonathan Young.

Prescribed-burn managers created a plan that includes smoke-management details, fire-control measures, acceptable fuel-moisture and weather parameters, and the necessary equipment and personnel required to safely conduct the burns. The burn will be conducted by staff from the N.C. Forest Service, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation and local fire departments.

During the burn, visitors to the park can expect some trail closures. Park managers will post signs about the closures.

Prescribed burning is a safe forest-management tool used for native fire-adapted ecosystems and fire-dependent species. The fires reduce dangerous buildup of pine straw, sticks, and other forest litter that put people and communities in jeopardy from wildfire. Prescribed fires also reduce competition from invading species and add nutrients back into the soil, allowing native plants and animals to thrive.

For more information on prescribed fire, visit the N.C. Forest Service website at http://ncforestservice.gov or the N.C. Prescribed Fire Council at www.ncprescribedfirecouncil.org. Questions also can be directed to the Stokes County Ranger’s Office at 336-593-8154. To learn more about Hanging Rock State Park, call at 336-593-8480 or go to www.ncparks.gov/