The burn reduces wildfire fuels, such as stumps, logs, brush and ground-level vegetation, while leaving trees unharmed.
According to Evesham Fire-Rescue Chief Carl Bittenbender, it’s been more than 20 years since there’s been unplanned wildfire in Evesham Township.
Bittenbender said that prolonged lack of fire is simultaneously good and bad for the safety of the township and its surrounding environment.
“That’s a good a thing, but it can also be a bad thing, because it increases our risk,” Bittenbender said.
With that, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service is preparing to perform a “prescribed burn” on lands owned by Evesham Township in the Black Run Preserve and private landowners in the southern half of town.
Bittenbender described a prescribed burn as a controlled, slow-moving fire meant to benefit the forest land by reducing accumulated “fuels,” such as stumps, logs, brush, ground-level vegetation, etc., while simultaneously leaving trees unharmed.
Left unchecked, Bittenbenber said those accumulated fuels could increase the risk of a starting a more intense, uncontrolled wildfire in the future.
“If there’s very low humidity, very high winds at certain times of year…you can have some spring seasons and fall seasons where there’s perfect conditions for an intense wildfire,” Bittenbender said. “By doing a prescribed burn and controlling the fuels, it will reduce that risk should those conditions come to fruition and a subsequent fire break out.”
Bittenbender said the slow-moving nature of the burn would also make the area healthier for the animals that live there, and allow for more growth in the future.
According to Bittenbender, the fire service is looking to perform the burn in early March, depending on weather conditions.
Bittenbender said the fire service team is constantly monitoring conditions, and based on its techniques and years of experience, the fire service would be able to control the intensity and location of the prescribed burn.
“They would not conduct a prescribed burn if the conditions were not appropriate or if there was any increased risk of that fire getting out of control,” Bittenbender said.
Specifically, Bittenbender said locations scheduled for the prescribed burn would start with the area surrounding the old MUA retention basins on the east side of Kettle Run Road.
Next, the burn would move to a 200-acre parcel east of Kettle Run Road, down to Bortons Road, then up to the backside of the Little Mill Country Club.
Afterward, the burn would move to a privately owned, 200-acre parcel west of Kettle Run Road.
Finally, the burn would target 86 privately owned acres located east/southeast of The Sanctuary development.
“It’s a pretty significant endeavor all over different days and when the conditions are right,” Bittenbender said.
As March draws closer and the fire service has more a more accurate estimate of weather patterns, Bittenbender said Evesham Fire-Rescue, along with the township and its police department, will share more specific information on the controlled burn.
According to Bittenbender, once started, the fire service will carry out the burns during a period of five to seven days.
“Everybody will be aware of where and when the controlled burn is happening,” Bittenbender.
Bittenbender said the fire service is looking for weather and wind conditions that would allow the smoke to rise up and away from homes, although an odor of smoke may be present in the area and visible in the area regardless.
Also, locals can expect portions of the area to smolder for days after the burn until soaking rain comes in the area. However, during that time of smolders, the fire service will monitor the area and use breaks if necessary to ensure there is no extension of any fires.
