Prescribed Burns

The skillful application of fire under select weather conditions in specified locations to accomplish explicit management goals.

Prescribed burn at the Pondberry Preserve

Why is fire necessary?

Fire is a natural process, necessary for the health and survival of plants, animals, and ecosystems. Natural areas of North Carolina historically burned once every 2-7 years. Species in these ecosystems have become fire adapted, meaning they are resistant to fire damage. Some even became fire dependent, meaning they require fire in order to regenerate. Cones of the Table Mountain Pine tree releases its seed after exposure to a high temperature only reached by fire. Other wildflower seeds rely on fire for germination.

Prescribed burns benefit more than just fire adapted species:

Reduce risk of uncontrolled wildfires
Restore wildlife habitat
Improve water quality
Maintain healthy ecosystems
Recycle nutrients back into soils
Control insects and diseases
Manage competing vegetation

Preserves on Fire

80% of the NCPCP Preserves need prescribed burns as part of their management. 

NC fire adapted plants

Narrow-leafed smooth aster (Symphyotrichum laeve var. concinnum)

Longleaf pine (Pinus palustrus)

Smooth coneflower (Echinacea laevigata)

Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)

Sandhills lily (Lilium pyrophilum)

Hoary Puccoon (Lithospermum canescens)

Roughleaf yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia asperulifolia)

Pondberry Bay Preserve: Pondberry Bay is located in the Carolina bays and features Longleaf Pine Savannas. Fire suppression led to a great reduction in this habitat size, and the diverse plant communities it supports. Fire management at the Pondberry Bay preserve was first implemented in 2012, often performed in partnership between PCP staff and NC Forest Service Staff. Schweinitz's sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii) and venus flytraps are two of the many plant species benefiting from fire management at Pondberry Bay. Prescribed burns may also be used in efforts to combat the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus), a carrier of Laurel Wilt Disease fungi.

Prescribed burn at Pondberry Bay, photo by PCP Staff

Post prescribed burn at Pondberry Bay, photo by PCP Staff

Hebron Road Preserve: Efforts to restore the savanna-like habitats of this Piedmont preserve have involved several occasions of controlled burns. Numerous notable NC species have benefited from these practices: Smooth Coneflower, Narrow-leaf Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve var. concinnum), and Erect Bindweed (Calystegia spithamea) are just a few.

Mineral Springs Barrens: After spring burns of 2012 two species, previously unsighted for many years, were recorded. The Thick-pod White Wild Indigo (Baptisia alba) and Georgia Aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum).

Boiling Springs Lake: The Boiling Springs Lake preserve saw its first prescribed burn in 2011. With help from 5 tractor plow unites, a spotter plane, and additional staff from DFR and TNC the complex burn was accomplished. The preserve is known for providing habitat to numerous Venus Flytraps.

Cedar Mountain Bog: In 2019, a successful burn at the Cedar Mountain Bog preserve maintains habitat for species such as Bog Laurel (Kalmia polifolia) and Bog Rose (Arethus bulbosa).

Overhead of a prescribed burn at Cedar Mountain Bog preserve, Photo by PCP Staff

The Process

Multiple steps are taken to insure the success and safety of a prescribed burns. Prescribed burns are implemented only by those with proper training, often members of the PCP Staff or additional personnel from the US Forest Service.

First, goals of the burn site are established and specified.
Fire breaks are set and examined by the person in charge, the burn boss.
- Fire breaks are natural or artificial areas lacking in fuel or combustible materials, such as roads, rivers, or areas cleared with hand tools and equipment.
Predicted smoke patterns, temperature, fuel moisture, air humidity, and wind, and other atmospheric and topographical conditions are considered when determining ideal weather and fuel conditions for a burn.
A burn strategy is selected and implemented to best accomplish the goals of the burn. Burn strategies vary in pattern and timing of applied lines of fire. To learn more about specifics of prescribed burns check out US Forest Service’s Introduction to Prescribed Fire in Southern Ecosystems.

References and Additional Resources

NC Forest Service - prescribed fire

PCP's Year In Review reports

Southern Blue Ridge Fire Learning Network

Southern Fire Exchange

"Using Fire to Improve Wildlife Habitat", NCSU Extension

Gray, Janet & Brownie, Cavell. (2003). Extinction, colonization, and persistence of rare vascular flora in the longleaf pine-wiregrass ecosystem: Responses to fire frequency and population size. Natural Areas Journal. 23. 210-219.