The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to conduct another prescribed burn in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge on the Dare County mainland on Saturday.
Plans are to burn 2,800 acres along U.S. 264 near Pamlico Road and the entrance of the Air Force bombing range.
Crews plan to start the burn between 10:30 and 11 a.m. using a helicopter to ignite the fires.
Prescribed burns within the area’s wildlife refuges and on privately-owned land serve multiple purposes, depending on the time of year.
Generally occurring in the spring and fall, the burns can enhance safety in case of a future wildfire, control vegetation, and create more desirable habitats for migratory birds.
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