Controlled burns on Oak Ridge Reservation start Friday

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office is initiating a series of controlled burns of grassland areas on the Oak Ridge Reservation for prescribed burning at the East Tennessee Technology Park and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory during March and April.

On March 15, weather permitting, controlled burns are taking place:

• on the grasslands off Dyllis Orchard Road/Blair Road northwest of ETTP—up to 12 acres,
• at Bethel Valley Road at Chestnut Ridge Drive at ORNL—approximately seven acres, and
• on Bethel Valley Road at First Street at ORNL—one-and-a-half acres.

The planned burns are part of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and ORNL’s effort to improve wildlife habitat, encourage growth of native plants, and reduce the risk of wildfires. They are conducted and overseen by the Tennessee Division of Forestry with support from TWRA personnel who maintain fire control equipment, certified burn managers, and trained personnel at the burn area.

Weather permitting, additional burns will be conducted through April. For additional information, contact the DOE-ORO Public Affairs Division at (865) 576-0885.