HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Residents in multiple North Alabama counties may see tall plumes of smoke in grassy areas over the next several months. Many will be planned fires - controlled or "prescribed burns" authorized by the Tennessee Valley Authority to help protect natural resources.
TVA officials said that through March 2024, burns will be prescribed weekly, pending agreeable weather conditions and availability of fire personnel. Counties affected include Colbert, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Limestone, Marion, and Marshall.
Prescribed burns, as TVA explained, can help maintain and establish wildlife habitat, and reduce thatch and leaves that help fuel wildfires. Burns also stimulate the growth of desirable vegetation and recycle nutrients back into the soil.
Fire managers from several state agencies, including the Alabama Forestry Commission, are partnering to prepare written prescribed burn plans, according to a TVA release. As part of the procedure, local permits are obtained and landowners within a reasonable distance of the burn area are notified of the intent to burn. Local volunteer fire departments are also given proper notice.
"The plans are prepared and the safety measures taken are vital to safely meeting the site specific land management objectives," TVA said.
Before and during firing operations, all weather conditions are closely monitored to ensure prescription parameters are met. Windy conditions are likely to nullify a day's planned burning. Burn bans, which are usually issued during instances of widespread drought in addition to windy conditions can also nix plans for prescribed burns.
TVA and partners have safely conducted prescribed burns on more than 20,000 acres of public land in recent years.