March is Prescribed Fire Awareness Month in South Carolina, and with the recent wildfires in the Myrtle Beach area, they are top of mind. Prescribed burning is the carefully planned practice of setting fires in a controlled manner under precise and favorable weather conditions. Resource managers like the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina Forestry Commission, and private landowners use prescribed fires to maintain or restore the health of a forest, grassland or agricultural field.
Many important landscapes across our state – including Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve – require this management practice to maintain forest ecosystems and natural resources, protect wildlife habitats, and decrease the risk of wildfires.
Take a look at Lewis Ocean Bay come back to life after a prescribed fire.