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Augusta County: Heavy smoke the result of a prescribed burn in Sherando area

Crystal Graham
prescribed burn fire us forest service prescribed fire alert
Image courtesy USDA Forest Service

If you are seeing smoke in Lyndhurst and Sherando today, you may see or smell smoke due to a prescribed burn.

The USDA Forest Service is undertaking a spring prescribed burn today in Augusta County near the Coal Road (Forest Service Road #42).

The burn will treat 467 acres near the Mills Creek area.

Turkey Pen Ridge Road and Mills Creek Trail will be closed during the burn.

Depending on the wind direction, the residents and travelers on Mt. Torry Road in the Sherando community may see or smell smoke, according to an update on social media.

According to the Forest Service, prescribed burns improve wildlife habitat by restoring open woodlands and grassland conditions on the forest landscape.

Experienced fire managers are on hand to monitor local weather conditions, such as wind and humidity, and adjust the schedule as needed to ensure the safety of both crewmembers and residents.

Crews have constructed and designated firebreaks to ensure the fire does not leave the burn area.

The burn will mimic historic natural fire as much as possible and will mainly consume brush and dead herbaceous vegetation.


Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is the regional editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of Virginia Tonight, a nightly TV news show on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television.