State Conducting Prescribed Burn In Ocean County, Police Say

MANCHESTER, NJ -- Manchester Township residents may see or smell smoke Wednesday afternoon as the New Jersey State Forest Fire Service conducts a prescribed burn in the township, police said.

The Manchester Township Police Department issued a Nixle alert about the activity, which it said is being conducted in the area of Schoolhouse Road and Wranglebrook Road.

The prescribed burns -- also referred to as controlled burns -- help reduce underbrush and other items that could feed a forest fire, the service says on its website. That in turn helps prevent wildfires and reduces the intensity of ones that do occur.

Additionally, the prescribed burns help with wildlife habitat management, forest disease and pest control and improve access.