Superintendent Barclay Trimble announced today that shortly after Feb. 17, 2014, weather and conditions permitting, National Park Service fire management staff, as part of the Outer Banks Group Fire Management Plan, could conduct prescribed burning on Bodie Island within Cape Hatteras National Seashore.The planned burn will consist of approximately 2,220 acres located along either side of NC Highway 12, north of the intersection with Old Oregon Inlet Road.
The intent of the burn is to reduce fuel loading in the area as well as to restore vegetative communities to historically accurate patterns.In order to safely accomplish the burn, some mechanical reduction of fuels will be conducted to establish breaks at the north edge of the burn units about one mile south of Whalebone Junction.Fuel breaks have already been established along the powerline right-of-way adjacent to South Nags Head.All additional break construction will utilize a combination of light weight, tracked rotary masticator/mower and hand tools. Ignition may be accomplished utilizing a combination of aerial ignition, along the sound and in the interior areas, and hand ignition along the remaining edges.
An open house style public information meeting regarding these projects will be held on Monday, Feb. 10, 2014, from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the meeting room of the Nags Head Fire Station 16, 5314 S. Croatan Highway, across from Nags Head Town Hall in Nags Head, North Carolina.
For more information, call 252-475-9000.
-NPS-
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
