The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to conduct prescribed fires at the National Conservation Training Center in March or early April to improve wildlife habitat. The National Conservation Training Center is located three miles north of Shepherdstown, WV on Shepherd Grade Road. Prescribed fires will occur on multiple management units totaling approximately 173 acres and could occur on multiple dates.

Experienced wildland firefighters from the U.S. Wildland Fire Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be implementing the fire operations. Smoke may be seen in the area for a brief time during and following prescribed fires. There may also be embers glowing during the evening within the burn units but they will pose little to no risk. A combination of firebreaks and specialized wildland firefighting equipment will be used to contain the fire within the burn units. NCTC staff have obtained all necessary permits from the West Virginia Division of Forestry and the West Virginia Division of Air Quality.

Prescribed fires will only take place during favorable weather conditions to keep fire behavior and smoke dispersion at manageable levels. Because prescribed fire is highly weather-dependent, the exact dates of the burns will not be known until shortly beforehand. Updated information about prescribed burn activities, including burn dates once determined, will be posted on the NCTC social media sites.

The National Conservation Training Center has been conducting prescribed burning for habitat management over many years. Fire is an ecological process that maintains and increases native plant species diversity and vegetation structure. Many species of wildlife and pollinators, including white-tailed deer, grassland birds, monarchs, and many bumblebees depend on early successional habitats that are maintained by fire.

Prescribed fire is the controlled application of fire to safely improve ecosystems while also reducing fuel loads to aid in the control of wildfire. Prescribed fire also aids in the reduction of woody plant encroachment into grasslands and meadows, encourages oak regeneration in woodlands, helps control invasive plants, and stimulates the growth of native grasses and wildflowers.

The National Conservation Training Center is the home of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a leader in environmental sustainability. The center provides exemplary training tailored to support Service employees and conservation partners in the accomplishment of the agency’s mission. For more information about NCTC visit http://nctc.fws.gov.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information on their work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov.