Fire plan will clear

7-mile border in Pisgah
By Scott Nicholson

Woodlands around Blowing Rock will see some fire-suppression work as part of a national-forest management plan.

About $15 million in federal funds were earmarked for forest management in North Carolina’s national forests, including “hazardous fuels treatment” in the Grandfather Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest.

The work will involve chainsaws and chippers, creating a 30-foot corridor of cleared land along seven miles of the forest’s boundary. The corridor is designed to help control the spread of any future forest fires.

Another three acres of corridor will be cleared along Big Ridge and Sauls Camp Ridge, and two landing spots for firefighting helicopters will also be developed and maintained.

No cutting will be done within 100 feet of perennial streams and trees over five inches in diameter will remain, including dead trees that provide wildlife benefits.

Clearing is also proposed for existing fire-access roads in the Lake James area. The goal is to increase firefighter safety and reduce the spread of forest fires into urban areas.

Comments on the proposals can be faxed to (828) 652-9511 or e-mailed to comments-southern-north-carolina-pisgah-grandfather@fs.fed.us. Comments should be submitted by Aug. 27.