E. Hall fire set in hopes of preventing future fires

LULA - The Georgia Forestry Commission conducted a prescribed burn in woods on Belton Bridge Road in East Hall Tuesday in hopes of preventing future wildfires in the area.

The humidity was too high and it was overcast, but Banks-Hall Forestry Unit members set the fire on 30 acres off Georgia Highway 365 anyway.

Ranger Doug Andrews said controlled burns are good for the woods; uncontrolled burns are not.

"You want to do this type of burning in a controlled environment," Andrews said. "If this were to come off of 365 with a wildfire started from a vehicle or a cigarette butt, then these fuels would burn extremely fast and hot."

Andrews said he expects a lot less rain this spring and the forestry unit will get busy because of dry woodlands.

"Our intent is to reduce the fuel layer by burning it off," Andrews added. "In the spring, it's going to release nitrogen into the ground and allow trees to be fertilized."

The Forestry Commission plans another prescribed, controlled burn Thursday on Georgia Highway 52 north of Lula Bridge.

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