Early in the year the smell of smoke wafts through the air in southeast Georgia. Yes, it’s a forest fire, but no, it’s nothing to worry about. Longleaf pines, an important part of the local ecosystem as well as a major part of the states’ timber industry, require fire in order to germinate. Crews from Fort Stewart in Bryan County perform prescribed burns annually, clearing out underbrush in the pine forests that surround the fort. They also prevent much worse, natural wildfires from breaking out. So if you smell smoke in the air soon in Bryan or Liberty County don’t be alarmed, it’s an important part of taking care of a unique and valuable Georgia ecosystem.
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