Georgia Plans Controlled Burn to Reduce Wildfire Threat

Natural resources officials are beginning a series of controlled burns aimed at improving wildlife habitat and reducing the chances of wildfire in southeast Georgia.

Burns were set to begin this week for 10 sites totaling about 100 acres along the Altamaha River at Penholoway Swamp Wildlife Management Area in rural Wayne County.

David Mixon of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Game Management division in Brunswick says crews will remove logging debris and prepare the ground for planting longleaf pine trees.

The Florida Times-Union reports that Mixon says the DNR plans to burn about 1,500 acres of grass fields on Sapelo Island by the end of the month. In addition, he says 500 acres will be burned at Clayhole Swamp Wildlife Management Area in Glynn County to thin out underbrush.