Prescribed burn planned by USDA Forest Service this weekend on Whitetop Mountain

US Forest Service officials are planning a prescribed burn on Whitetop Mountain this weekend.

The USDA Forest Service will conduct a 140-acre burn that will be around ten miles east of Damascus, VA and two miles north of US Route 58. The forest service will set the fire either Saturday or Sunday depending on weather conditions with ignition planned for mid or late afternoon. Firefighters will continue to monitor the area for several days after the burn.

Prescribed burns improve wildlife habitat by restoring open woodland while keeping homes and the public safe by reducing the buildup of dried leaves and wood in nearby forest land.

Photo Courtesy: USDA Forest Service