Prescribed fire awareness

Today is March 1 and, in South Carolina, by the governor’s proclamation it is Prescribed Fire Awareness Month.  Prescribed, or controlled, burning is the skilled application of fire under planned weather and fuel conditions to achieve specific forest and land management objectives.  Controlled burning is an ancient practice, used by North Americans, among other purposes, for crop management, insect and pest control, and hunting habitat improvement.  The practice continues today, as listeners of 101.7/WGOG know well, from the many prescribed burning announcements this time of year.  While prescribed burning cannot stop all wildfires, it is considered the best management tool available to prevent bigger and more frequent outbreaks.