Monday, December 29, 2014

Atlantic County Schedules 2015 Controlled Burns at County Parks

Approximately 165 acres of county parkland will be targeted for controlled burns to help prevent wildfires. The Atlantic County Division of Parks and Recreation will assist the New Jersey State Forest Fire in conducting the burns prior to March 15, 2015.

The targeted areas include 8 acres behind the Warren Fox Nature Center and an additional 120+ acres within the Atlantic County Park at Estell Manor. Thirty-five acres at the Lake Lenape Campground are also targeted to help further ensure public safety.

Controlled burns are contingent upon weather conditions. The State Forest Fire Service requires three consecutive days without precipitation prior to conducting a controlled burn. Wind conditions must also be favorable.

Controlled burns help eliminate underbrush and leaf litter that can fuel fires. In addition, they serve to stimulate new forest growth. They are one of several measures the Division of Parks and Recreation employs to prevent fires. The division also promotes fire safety education and encourages residents to visit www.firewise.org to learn more.

For more information about the controlled burns, please contact Clayton Ingersoll, Atlantic County Division of Parks and Recreation, at (609) 645-5960.

County News