04/13/2026
A controlled burn is planned for a segment of Kings Gap this spring. This intentional and targeted burn will be in conjunction with similar controlled burn plans for Michaux State Forest.
A controlled burn is referred to as โprescribed fireโ (or โRx fire), because it is exactly that: a prescription for health. Prescription plans and goals will vary between wild areas, just as prescriptions and health goals will vary among people.
Goals of a prescribed fire may include the control of invasive species, restoration of native plant communities, revival of wildlife habitat, or improved soil conditions. As an additional benefit, accomplishing any of these goals will reduce fuel on the forest floor in a controlled way, decreasing the risk of future uncontrolled wildfires.
A prescribed fire will only happen during exact weather conditions, in the presence of a large crew of certified/trained individuals. The crew members will have very specific roles, under the leadership of a โburn bossโ, who ensures the burn plan is carried our as prescribed.
Specifically, the burn plan for Kings Gap will encourage pine and oak regeneration with a diverse understory. The goal is to establish a mixed-oak forest that is conditioned for periodic fire disturbance.
As of now, the timing and exact window of suitable weather conditions for a successful burn cannot be predicted. ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐จ๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ฌ, ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐.
