Fort Campbell’s Directorate of Public Works Forestry Section announced Wednesday they are preparing for the upcoming fire season, and in doing so, they will conduct prescribed burns in various training areas across the installation.
Smoke may be seen from off the installation.
Forestry Section Supervisor and Wildland/Prescribed Fire Lead J.P. Hart said more than 8,900 acres of wildfires were contained last season, alongside an implemented 16,000 acres of prescribed fire. He further noted Fort Campbell’s typical burn season starts in September and runs through the end of March.
Given right weather conditions and training activities, a wildfire could happen year-round.
Prescribed burns are a common practice on Fort Campbell and promote healthier ecosystems, enhance wildlife habitat, improve forest conditions and facilitate military training. Hart added the use of fire promotes growth for native grasses and wildflowers and creates better habitat areas, especially for white-tail deer and ground nesting birds such as turkey and bobwhite quail.
Wildfires on the installation are usually the result of munitions training in the impact areas. Forestry personnel monitor suppress and control the fires using a variety of equipment and techniques such as backburning to create buffers.
If one sees fire or smoke in an area not just in Fort Campbell, but anywhere, and no one is around and there is concern, contact 911.
