The burn area is about 6 miles west of Heflin, and is bounded on the east by Forest Service Road 548, according to a release from the Forest Service. The release says drivers on that road should use caution. Smoke also may be visible Forest Service Road 553.
Smoke from the fire is expected to blow northeast toward Mount Pleasant and Fruithurst. Smoke may settle near Sweetwater Lake and Pine Glen as temperatures cool later today.
Sweetwater Lake and nearby portions of the Pinhoti Trail are on the northwestern boundary of the burn. The Forest Service said users of these recreation areas should not be affected by the burn, but advised users to stay within those areas and to the northwest of the Shoal Creek drainage.
The Forest Service also plans a smaller, 40-acre burn today near Waldo and the Mump Creek Reservoir in Talladega County. That burn, 2 miles east of Waldo, will be bounded on the east by Forest Service Road 626A. Smoke will be visible from Alabama highways 21 and 77 and the Talladega area. Crews and equipment will be along Alabama 77 and Mump Creek Road.
Smoke from the Waldo-area fire should blow east toward Guntertown, and should settle tonight in the Talladega Creek drainage area south of Waldo.
Controlled burns are fires set and monitored by Forest Service workers. The burns are intended to remove fuel that could lead to uncontrollable fires if allowed to accumulate. They also help to promote the growth of longleaf pines by burning away competitor species.
