News Release

Cumberland Island National Seashore begins preparations for prescribed burn at the Stafford burn units

The Stafford Burn Units on Cumberland Island National Seashore.

News Release Date: January 12, 2021

Contact: Robin Barker, 912-882-4336 x 254

St. Marys, GA– Site preparation has begun for the Stafford Plantation Prescribed Fire, scheduled for Spring of 2021. Mechanical preparation work will continue intermittently until the burn is carried out, including: 
 

-Hazard tree felling involving chainsaws.
-Fuel reduction treatments involving a skid-steer with masticating attachment.
-Line preparation using hand tools and leaf blowers. 

What to Expect: 
 

-Park fire staff will be positioned along trails and roads to ensure visitor safety and minimize impacts.
-Be prepared for short delays along Pratts Trail, Stafford Beach Road, and the Main Park Road.
-Stafford Beach Campground visitors can expect to hear chainsaw operations or heavy equipment between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
 

For your safety please follow all posted signs and stay on marked trails and roadways. 

The prescribed fire that will follow mechanical treatment will reduce hazardous fuels in an effort to lessen the potential for wildfires to impact the residential population, campgrounds, and cultural resources of the island. These fires will stimulate and promote the growth of grasses in island fields and will help maintain cultural landscapes that are currently experiencing encroaching woody species. These fires will also open up and improve the habitat for gopher tortoises.  

The date of the fire will be determined by the appropriate weather conditions as indicated in the seashore’s burn plan prescription; as such, no specific date has been set for the burn. 

For more information, visit the park’s Wildland Fire page: https://www.nps.gov/cuis/learn/nature/wildlandfire.htm 

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Cumberland Island is the largest barrier island off the coast of Georgia, encompassing more than 36,000 acres of maritime forests, salt marsh, and beaches. The island is also home tomore than9,800 acres of congressionally designated wilderness. The island’s natural and cultural resources provide a rich and diverse habitat for wildlife and offer a glimpse into the long history of coastal Georgia. The seashore is accessible by pedestrian-only passenger ferry from the historic community of St. Marys. 

www.nps.gov 

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