Prescribed Fire Planned at Cumberland Island National Seashore
(St. Marys, GA) National Park Service to conduct prescribed fire operations at Cumberland Island National Seashore.
Cumberland Island National Seashore staff will employ prescribed fire in order to reduce hazardous fuels in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), reduce encroachment of woody species into cultural landscapes, and promote stimulation of grass and forbs.
Cumberland Island National Seashore will be working with its interagency partners to initiate prescribed burns in two separate burn units as early as next week, conditions permitting. One grass field unit, and one unit of pine plantation will be the focus of this multi-agency effort.
The prescribed fire will reduce hazardous fuels, in an effort to lessen the potential for wild fires to impact the residential population, campgrounds, and cultural resources of the island. These fires will stimulate and promote the growth of grasses in island fields and will help maintain cultural landscapes that are currently experiencing encroaching woody species.
The date of the fire is determined by the appropriate weather conditions as indicated in the seashore’s burn plan prescription; as such, no specific date has been set for the burn, however burn operation could begin as early as the week of February 12th, 2019. The window for conducting the burn operation begins on February 12th and will run through mid-July.
Some disruptions to park operations could occur such as campground closings or re-routing and delays of island tours. The staff will make every effort to communicate with the visiting public during the burn plan implementation both at the park and through the park’s webpage, Facebook, and Twitter sites.
Public safety is paramount. Cumberland Island National Seashore staff and its partners are working together to insure a safe and successful burn event.
For up to date information on the prescribed burn visit www.nps.gov/cuis and monitor the park’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cumberlandislandnps or Twitter @CumberlandIslNP
Cumberland Island is the largest barrier island off the coast of Georgia, encompassing more than 36,000 acres of maritime forests, salt marsh and beaches. The island is also home to over 9,800 acres of congressionally designated wilderness. The island’s natural and cultural resources provide a rich and diverse habitat for wildlife and offer a glimpse into the long history of coastal Georgia. The seashore is accessible by pedestrian-only passenger ferry from the historic community of St. Marys.
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Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
