Prescribed burn scheduled today on Dare County mainland

Weather permitting, Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge firefighting crews will be conducting an 1,800-acre prescribed burn near Mashoes Road in Manns Harbor today on the Dare County mainland.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a helicopter will be used for aerial ignition.

The objectives of Tuesday’s burn are to set back woody shrub cover in marshes in order to improve wildlife habitat and reduce the risk of wildfires, USFWS stated. Smoke from the fire may be visible from Hatteras Island.

Prescribed burns within the refuges serve multiple purposes, depending on the time of year. Generally occurring in the spring and fall, the burns can enhance protection against wildfires, control vegetation, and create more desirable habitats for migratory birds.

One of the purposes of a late winter or springtime burn is to create a “safe zone” so that if a wildfire occurs and moves south, there is a break in the landscape that will give firefighters time to stop the wildfire before it impacts residences and structures in surrounding areas.

Prescribed burns at the Pea Island National Wildlife refuge are also likely in the coming weeks.