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Prescribed burn season in northeast Pennsylvania to run through May 31

March 26, 2024 | Long Pond, PA

A person in yellow fire gear stands in a bare field with gray smoke and small fires rising from the ground.
Fire Season Prescribed burn season in northeast Pennsylvania to run through May 31 © Stephen Ruswick/TNC

Media Contacts

Spring prescribed fire season is underway in northeast Pennsylvania. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) will conduct controlled burns on its preserves, including the Long Pond Complex and the Tannersville Cranberry Bog, intermittently through May 31 pending favorable weather conditions.

Monroe County residents and businesses are advised that smoke may be visible during certain prescribed fire days. TNC will provide updates on its Facebook and Twitter/X channels when burns are set to occur.

A small fern grows on a brown barren forest floor.
Fresh Growth Just weeks after a prescribed burn, new growth sprouts from the ashes. © John Hinkson/TNC

Prescribed fire plays a critical role in the health of Pennsylvania’s ecosystems by reducing overgrown vegetation and mitigating the risk of large, out-of-control wildfires. In coordination with its partners across the state, TNC uses prescribed fire to restore and maintain resiliency in Pennsylvania’s forests and grasslands.

Controlled burning encourages growth of native vegetation, increases biodiversity, minimizes the spread of invasive species, and recycles nutrients back into the soil. The right fire at the right place at the right time will also help improve habitat for threatened and endangered species.

TNC’s highly trained fire crews, led by experienced Burn Bosses, take numerous steps to ensure the safety of nearby communities by evaluating the type of vegetation within the burn area; establishing fire breaks and control lines; moderating the intensity of flame and smoke; and providing appropriate personnel and equipment necessary to manage and control the fire from spark to extinguishment.

Prior to a burn, Burn Bosses communicate with local fire services and county agencies to coordinate public awareness, staffing, and resources. Weather conditions are carefully assessed on the day of a prescribed burn. If the weather conditions are not conducive, burning does not take place that day.

A small fire burns in a forested area.
Burning at Ponders Tract An active burn being carried out by staff at Ponders Tract in Pemberton Forest. © Jenny Case/TNC

Learn More About How & Why We Work With Fire

For more information on TNC’s prescribed fire program and its environmental benefits, please visit our prescribed fire landing page.

× A small fire burns in a forested area.

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 77 countries and territories (41 by direct conservation impact and 36 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org or follow @nature_press on X.