Single Publication

Elkins, W.Va., March 21, 2022 — Monongahela National Forest plans to burn the Peach Orchard and Lick Mountain Prescribed Burns on Tuesday March 22, if weather conditions continue to be favorable. The 1,119-acre Peach Orchard burn area is located northwest of Blue Bend Recreation Area, specifically south of Forest Road (FR) 797, east of FR 296, north and west of FR 297. Lick Mountain burn area is 405 acres located west of Neola, specifically south and east of FR 796A, west of FR 796 and north and east of FR 796G.

These prescribed burns will restore, maintain, and enhance wildlife habitat by creating conditions that favor oak reproduction (or regeneration). Many animals depend on oak trees for food, eating acorns, leaves and even bark. Oak tree regeneration is a cycle. Mature oaks need to produce acorns, those acorns need to germinate into young oaks, and then those young oaks need enough sunlight to grow up and mature. A problem at any stage can make the entire cycle fail.

In the past, West Virginia oak ecosystems had widely spaced trees allowing sunlight to shine through gaps between the trees. Fires ignited by Native Americans, European settlers, and lightning helped maintain open forests of oak, chestnut and pine. These fires burned up dead leaves on the ground which allowed acorns to sprout (and survive) in soil rather than in a layer of leaves. Reduced fire activity during the 20th century increased tree and shrub densities, creating more shade on the forest floor and a deeper layer of dead leaves. This hindered oak regeneration and favored tree species whose seedlings can grow in the shade, like maples. These shade-loving trees do not provide the same kind or amount of food for animals to eat as oak trees.

Additionally, in the Peach Orchard area, open fields and brushy habitat along the edges of these fields has decreased during the past 50 to 75 years. Open and brushy edge habitat is important because it provides nesting, foraging and cover habitat for wildlife, such as songbirds, rabbits, grouse, turkey and similar animals.

Prescribed burning supports oak regeneration and maintenance of open/edge habitats. It also reduces the risk of catastrophic wildfires by consuming burnable material on the forest floor under specific weather and fuel conditions that keep the burn manageable. Monongahela National Forest follows strict guidelines for conducting prescribed burns, and takes into consideration environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, smoke dispersion and wind. If any environmental conditions are not within limits, the burn will be postponed.

The Peach Orchard and Lick Mountain burn areas will be closed to the public on the day of the burn, and may be closed for several days after, to ensure public safety. Signs will be posted on roads near the burn areas before and during burning. Residents and Forest visitors may see and smell smoke for several days. If you encounter smoke on the highway, slow down, turn on your vehicle’s lights and drive appropriately for the conditions.

Local radio stations will be alerted to burn activities ahead of time. When burning begins, information, photos, and maps will be available at InciWeb:

Peach Orchard: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8021/