The USDA Forest Service will begin conducting prescribed burns in Augusta, Highland and Rockingham Counties, Virginia, and Pendleton County, West Virginia, between mid-March and late May 2021. Prescribed burns keep the public and homes safe by reducing the buildup of dried leaves and wood in nearby forest land that can lead to uncontrolled wildfires. Prescribed burns can also improve wildlife habitat by restoring open woodlands and grasslands to the forest landscape.
- Augusta County and Highland County, Virginia; and Pendleton County, West Virginia: The 5,427-acre New Road Run burn area is located on the western slope of Shenandoah Mountain on the West Virginia-Virginia state line, immediately west of the Little River Inventoried Roadless area and north of the Ramsey Draft Wilderness. Reddish Knob Road (Forest Service Road 85-5), Little Stoney Road (Forest Service Road 61) and Little Stoney Trail (Forest Trail 1027) will be temporarily closed. For your safety, please follow posted signs and comply with road closures when they occur. Residents of Harrisonburg, Briery Branch, Ottobine, Clover Hills, Bridgewater, and Sugar Grove, Virginia, and Brandywine, West Virginia, and travelers on West Virginia County Route 25 and Va. County Route 924, West Virginia Route 32, North River Road (Forest Service Road 95) and Stoney Run Road (Forest Service Road WV 61) may see or smell smoke. Depending on wind direction, this controlled burn may have lingering smoke effects.
- Rockingham County, Virginia: The 62-acre Slate Lick Fields burn area is located 4.3 miles south of Fulks Run. For your safety, please follow posted signs and comply with area closures when they occur. Residents of Fulks Run and travelers on State Routes 612 and 259 may see or smell smoke. Depending on wind direction, this controlled burn may have lingering smoke effects.
- Augusta County, Virginia: The 34-acre Moffett prescribed burn area is located 3 miles southwest of Stokesville and east of Hankey Mountain. For your safety, please follow posted signs and comply with area closures when they occur. Residents of Stokesville and Jennings Gap and travelers on the portions of US 250 and Jennings Gap Road (State Route 728) closest to the burn area may see or smell smoke. Depending on wind direction, this controlled burn may have lingering smoke effects.
Screenshot courtesy of USDA Forest Service