Wayne National Forest Plans Spring Prescribed Fires
Burn Window: Approximately Feb. 25 through May 1, 2022
NELSONVILLE, Ohio (Feb. 24, 2022) — This spring, the Wayne National Forest is planning prescribed fires in nine areas totaling up to 4,515 acres. The planned burn areas are located on the Athens and Ironton Ranger Districts, private lands, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Wallace H. O’Dowd Wildlife Area. Prescribed burns are intentional fires that are managed by professional wildland firefighters.
Fire plays an important role in the oak forests of southeast Ohio. The occasional low-intensity fire keeps oak forests healthy and resilient by giving oaks and other fire-tolerant trees a competitive edge over shade-loving tree like maples and beeches.
“Oak forests are crucial for the survival of native plants and animals, and they’re important to our society,” said Acting Forest Supervisor Joe Koloski. “Using prescribed fire allows us to sustain these important ecosystems—and all the life that depends on them—into the future.”
Depending on weather and landscape conditions, fire crews may use traditional ground-based or aerial ignition methods to conduct prescribed burns. Aerial ignition involves the use of a plastic sphere dispenser machine mounted in a helicopter to drop ignition spheres onto a targeted area.
“When we perform aerial ignition, it can allow us to do several weeks’ work of burning over a much shorter period.” said Koloski. “This process also reduces risk for our firefighters.”
Those living near the prescribed burn locations may see large smoke columns, but there is no need for alarm and the smoke should dissipate quickly.
Summary details about the planned prescribed burns are below:
Athens Ranger District – Athens Unit
➤ Long Ridge SE (East) Prescribed Burn
Size: Approximately 1,600 acres National Forest System, 224.3 acres Private lands, and 174 acres ODNR Wallace H. O’Dowd Wildlife Area
Location: Athens County, Dover and Trimble Townships, near the following areas: Buchtel, Doanville, Modoc, Redtown, adjacent to State Route 685
➤ Long Ridge SE (West) Prescribed Burn
Size: Approximately 758 acres National Forest System, 4 acres ODNR Wallace H. O’Dowd Wildlife Area
Location: Hocking County, Ward Township, near the following areas: east of County Road 24 and west of State Route 78, near Buchtel and Murry City
Athens Ranger District – Marietta Unit
➤ Dart Prescribed Burn
Size: Approximately 129 acres
Location: Washington County, Lawrence Township, near the following areas: Dart, Deucher, Moss Run, north of County Road 9
➤ Bolivian Run Prescribed Burn
Size: Approximately 117 acres
Location: Washington County, Newport Township, near the following areas: north of Newport, south of County Road 9, off township road 635
➤ Yellow Fringed Orchid Prescribed Burn
Size: Approximately 11 acres
Location: Washington County, Grandview Township, west New Matamoras, north of State Route 260, off Wiley Road
Ironton Ranger District
➤ Sunny Oaks Prescribed Burn, Units 9 and 11
Size: Approximately 200 acres
Location: Gallia County, Perry Township, near the following areas: Skyline Road and County Road 52. Symmes Creek and County Road 58
➤ Sunny Oaks Prescribed Burn, Units 4, and 24-29
Size: Approximately 1,087 acres
Location: Lawrence County, Symmes Township, near the following areas: County Roads 210 and 320, County Roads 48 and 51
➤ Sunny Oaks Prescribed Burn, Unit 22
Size: Approximately 208 acres
Location: Lawrence County, Aid Township, near the following areas: Five Forks-Aarons Creek Road and Rucker Ridge Road
➤ Fradd Hollow Prescribed Burn
Size: Approximately 2.7 acres
Location: Lawrence County, Lawrence Township, near the following areas: County Road 5
