If you see smoke in the sky around White and Rabun counties today, don’t be alarmed, forestry management officials are conducting several controlled burns in the area.
The Chattooga River Ranger District is applying prescribed fire to an area located nine miles west of Clayton near the intersection of U.S. Hwy 76 and GA Hwy 197. Depending on conditions, this controlled burn could consist of up to 150 acres.
A prescribed burn is also underway in the area of Preacher Campbell Road in White County.
The fires are meant to reduce hazardous fuels in the forests and improve wildlife habitats. Every year, fire managers treat around 35,000 acres on the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests through prescribed fire, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
If you want to be notified when prescribed fires are happening in your area, sign up for burn alerts through the U.S. Forestry Service at http://www.fs.usda.gov/
