Smokefog Over Walton County On Wednesday Had Residents Concerned

Residents in Walton County were concerned by the smell of burning and the haze of smokefog that covered the area on Wednesday. A spokesperson with the Georgia Forestry Commission confirmed that it was the result of a number of controlled burns in some surrounding counties, including Jasper County.

"There were several controlled burns in the area that were requested by the U.S. Forest Service," said Wendy Burnett, public relations director for the GFC. "We did permit the prescribed fires. They are required to reduce wildfire materials and improve the wildlife habitat."

Burnett said she believed the closest prescribed burn to the local area on Wednesday was in Jasper County.

According to the GFC website, a "prescribed fire is a safe way to apply a natural process, ensure ecosystem health and reduce wildfire risk." The GFC and other organizations work with the Georgia Prescribed Fire Council (GAPFC) on exchanging information, techniques and experiences among practitioners of prescribed burning in Georgia. Georgia prescribe burns about 1.5 million acres of forest lands each year, GFC reports.

Gov. Nathan Deal proclaimed the first week in February to be observed annually as Prescribed Fire Awareness Week for Georgia, claiming that "healthy forests provide clean air and water, and diverse wildlife populations for Georgia’s residents and visitors."

GAPFC advocates prescribed burning as one of the most environmentally and economically feasible methods for managing the state’s valuable forest resources. Professional foresters and other land managers throughout the state use prescribed burning for reforestation, aesthetics, and forest access. As a land management tool, prescribed fire is essential for managing wildlife species such as bobwhite quail, eastern wild turkey, white- tailed deer, many songbirds, the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and many other fire-dependent species. Prescribed burning is the only known forest management method which perpetuates the longleaf/wiregrass ecosystem, Georgia’s most diverse flora and fauna ecosystem.             Georgia Prescribed Fire Council     

For more information about GAPFC, visit www.garxfire.com. For more information about the Georgia Forestry Commission, visit www.GaTrees.org.