Crime & Safety

Controlled Burn At Skillman Park In Montgomery

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service will be conducting the prescribed burning operation on Wednesday afternoon.

MONTGOMERY, NJ — The New Jersey Forest Fire Service is conducting controlled burns at Skillman Park in Montgomery on Wednesday.

The burn will take place beginning around noon.

"Smoke may be seen in the area," said Montgomery Police in an alert on Wednesday.

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About Prescribed Fire:

There are multiple benefits to prescribed fire, which is a safe, effective and efficient means of managing the buildup of forest fuels that may contribute to the start and spread of a wildfire. By actively eliminating sources of fuel that exacerbate forest fire risks through a controlled and prescribed burning program, the Forest Fire Service reduces risk to New Jersey residents, visitors and the environment.

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Prescribed burns improve habitats for plants and animals, reduce the presence of damaging insects and ticks, and recycle nutrients into the soil. In addition, prescribed burning is an important part of the state’s carbon defense strategy. Allowing experts to choose the intensity, timing and interval of fire across the landscape may help prevent a larger uncontrolled wildfire, which would contribute to significant carbon loss. Typically, most prescribed burns take place between February and early April.

Learn more about prescribed fire in New Jersey: nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2023/23_0012.htm

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