Prescribed Burn in Big Branch

Weather conditions were favorable for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fire management crews to conduct a prescribed burn operation. This burn occurred on Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. Controlled burn operations are carefully planned to ensure areas are burned under optimal conditions in order to benefit natural resources while keeping the public and fire management crews safe. The objectives of this prescribed burn are to remove hazardous fuel buildup. Smoke may be observed coming off the refuge on the north end of Lake Pontchartrain between Slidell and Lacombe. Prescribed burns are a cost effective tool for land and resource managers to help reduce the risk of devastating wildfires that can threaten people, fish, wildlife and plants.