Prescribed Burning

Prescribed burning is 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 disturbance process, necessary for the health and survival of some plants, animals, and ecosystems. Many natural areas of North Carolina have historic fire regimes. 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. For example, cones of both Pond Pine and Table Mountain Pine release seeds after exposure to a high temperature only reached by fire. Interestingly, these two species grow on opposite sides of the state. Similarly, many wildflowers rely on fire for seed germination. 

Prescribed burns benefit more than just fire adapted species. Other benefits include:

• Reduced risk of uncontrolled wildfires
• Restored wildlife habitat
• Improved water quality
• Maintained healthy ecosystems
• Nutrients recycled back into soils
• Controlled insects and diseases
• Managed competing vegetation

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Highlights from Rx Fire on PCP Preserves

80% of the NCPCP Preserves need prescribed burns as part of their management. ​
​30% of NC's protected plant species are threatened by fire suppression.

A Few of NC's fire adapted plants:

Narrow-leafed smooth aster (Symphyotrichum concinnum)

Longleaf pine (Pinus palustrus)

Smooth coneflower (Echinacea laevigata)

Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)

Sandhills lily (Lilium pyrophilum)

Hoary Puccoon (Lithospermum canescens)

Rough-leaf loosestrife (Lysimachia asperulifolia)

Pondberry Bay Preserve: Pondberry Bay features Carolina bays, streamhead pocosins, and longleaf pine savannas. Fire suppression has contributed to a reduction in size in these habitats, and the diverse plant communities they support. PCP's fire management at the Pondberry Bay Preserve was first implemented in 2008, often performed in partnership NC Forest Service Staff. Pondberry (Lindera melissifolia) and Sandhills milkvetch (Astragulus michauxii) 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

Prescribed burn at Pondberry Bay

Post prescribed burn at Pondberry Bay

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

Mineral Springs Barrens: After spring burns conducted in 2012, two imperiled species which were previously unsighted for many years, were rediscovered: the Thick-pod White Wild Indigo (Baptisia alba) and Georgia Aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum).

Boiling Springs Lake: The Boiling Springs Lake Preserve has been under regular fire management since at least 2004. This large preserve has burn units of variable sizes requiring as little as a few ground crew and up to multiple squads by air support with helicopter. This preserve is home to the Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) and Rough-leaf Loosestrife (Lysimachia asperulifolia), both of which depend on fire.

Cedar Mountain Bog: PCP has been conducting burns at this preserve since 2012. Not all mountain bog should have fire, however this site includes obvious indicators such as Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida) and Turkey Beard (Xerophyllum asphodeloides). 

Overhead of a prescribed burn at Cedar Mountain Bog Preserve.

The Process

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

• First, goals of the burn unit 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, 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. To learn more about specifics of prescribed burns check out US Forest Service’s Introduction to Prescribed Fire in Southern Ecosystems.​

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References and Additional Resources

​NC Forest Service - prescribed fire
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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.