Residents may see smoke in the air
A crew member of the fire team works on an area in Turnbull designated in the ongoing prescribed burns.
CHENEY - Turnbull National Wildlife refuge will be conducting a prescribed burn on Oct 19.
For public and firefighter safety, the auto tour route will be closed and there may be traffic control in place on Smith Road during the day.
The remainder of the public use area will be open.
Visitors should plan for smoke in and around the refuge and nearby roads, and caution is advised when driving through areas of lower visibility.
These prescribed fires will reduce the risk of wildfire on the refuge and help restore native habitat.
Refuge managers work with the Service's highly skilled fire management professionals and wildland firefighters to develop and implement a detailed burn plan.
This includes strict safety measures, such as a pre- and post- burn monitoring plan, identifying the ideal weather and wind conditions for the prescribed fire to take place, and tracking the air quality in the area. Burning will only occur when weather conditions and smoke dispersion are favorable.
Personnel will assess the auto tour route for hazards Friday morning to determine when it will be able to re-open.
Matthew graduated from West Virginia University-Parkersburg in 2011 with a journalism degree. He's an award-winning photographer and enjoys writing stories about people.
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