Forest Service to Conduct Prescribed Burn in Bath County on Monday, April 15, 2024 5730 Site To Be Affected   Roanoke, VA (April 15, 2024) - Location: The 5730-acre Blue Panther unit is located near Hot Springs, Millboro, and Warm Springs in Bath County, VA. Forest Service staff will begin with a 650-acre portion of the unit and proceed as conditions allow. Date and Time: The Forest Service plans to begin ignitions on April 15, 2024, if weather conditions are appropriate. This burn will be completed over several days. Residents and forest visitors may see and smell smoke during this time and for a few days after. Closures: Mare Run Road and Forest Service Road 194C will be closed for public and firefighter safety. Smoke: Smoke may be visible to the Hot Springs, Warm Springs, and Millboro communities. Smoke may also temporarily impact visibility on RT 39. Objectives: This burn will help reduce hazardous fuels and restore wildlife habitat to improve overall forest health by creating a mosaic of different aged trees and shrubs. Additionally, this burn will improve wildlife habitat by restoring open woodlands and grasslands to the forest landscape. It will also reduce hazardous fuels. For more information on our prescribed burn program, please contact the James River and Warm Spring Ranger District at 540-839-2521, visit www.fs.usda.gov/gwj, or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

* * * * *