Prescribed Burns At Wildlife Refuge To Impact Lacey

LACEY, NJ — Officials are warning residents that prescribed burns at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge later this month could bring smoke to the area.

Lacey Township officials shared that the wildlife refuge planned prescribed burns in late March, though a specific date was not shared. One potential location for the burns is 75 acres at the former Forked River Game Farm site.

Other potential locations include Cedar Bonnet Island off Route 72 and 250 acres near the pools on the west side of Wildlife Drive at the refuge's headquarters in Oceanville.

The burns are necessary to reduce excess vegetation that can fuel wildfires and to control invasive species like common reed or Bradford pear trees, allowing native species to thrive, according to officials.

Residents may notice visible smoke following the burns, but crews will be on-site until the fire is fully declared out, officials said.

The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge protects more than 48,000 acres of coastal habitat in South Jersey, the majority of which is wetlands.

For more details, visit the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge website: https://www.fws.gov