1,200-acre burn today

A new, prescribed burn by the U-S Forest Service is scheduled get underway this morning at Long Creek, with the expectation that the smoke will blow in the direction of the Rabun County, Georgia town of Tiger. A USFS spokesman says today’s burn will cover about 1,200 acres in the vicinity of Damascus Church Road. While the burn is in progress, the Damascus Church Road will be closed to all except local traffic. Governor McMaster has declared March the month for Prescribed Fire Awareness, noting that prescribed burns help wildlife habitat and reduce the fuels that lead to wildfires.