Ecological burns at Jocassee Gorges to restore habitat, improve
safety Many species and ecosystems require fire periodically to
ensure their survival, and that’s why prescribed burns will
again be a part of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources’
management of the Jim Timmerman Natural Resources Area at
Jocassee Gorges in 2008. "The objective of the controlled burns,
which will likely begin in January, is to maintain the
ecological integrity of these lands," said Mark Hall, S.C.
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife biologist and
forest planner, "and to provide for human safety by reducing the
amount of fuel on the natural area, thereby reducing the chance
of catastrophic wildfire. For many of these ecosystems, it’s not
a matter of 'if' they will burn, but rather 'when.' We like to
choose the 'when.'" Burning will be done when the weather is
suitable to allow for a safe burn, including the rapid rising
and dispersal of smoke, Hall said. Once weather conditions are
right for the burn, it should take