Assateague Island Controlled Fires

Assateague Island will be the scene of random fires sometime between March 10^th and April 1^st, 2009. It will take about one week to burn all of the areas needed. Of course these will be well controlled fires started by the National Park service with the local fire departments help.

About 200 acres of Phragmites australis, also known as common reed, will be burned off to allow local plants to reoccupy the space. A herbicide has already been sprayed on the reeds and the burn is just to clear the land. This will be the first time that the Park Service has used fire to eliminate these reeds.

The burn area will be at the corner of Ferry Island Road and Bayberry Drive. This is an area that is not easily accessible. Other burns will occur in the off-road vehicle area on the northern end of Great Egging Island.

The exact dates will be determined by the weather but the areas selected have natural fire barriers, like water and open sand.

Ted Morlock, the head ranger, at Assateague Island National Seashore will oversee the burn. Mr. Morlock said the reason for these fires is to allow vegetation to grow that will help maintain marsh wildlife.

Local residents should not be alarmed during the times of these burns even though flames and smoke may be high enough to be seen.