CONTROLLED BURN AT MASHPEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE TO PROTECT PEOPLE AND PROMOTE NATIVE HABITATS

The prescribed burns will be accomplished by a group of trained wildland fire fighters from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and several other cooperating agencies. Although controlled burning is planned to occur under a tight set of prescribed conditions which minimize impacts to wildlife and the public, there may be some short periods of time when smoke may impair visibility on public roads that pass through the refuge. Refuge personnel will post warning signs to advise drivers of any hazardous conditions. Visitors driving through the Refuge are strongly encouraged to heed warning signs and slow down when visibility is impaired.

Smoke columns produced are expected to be fairly large and visible for several miles. It would be appreciated that if you spot a smoke column and think it may be a wildfire, please call the refuge office at 978-443-4661 or the Mashpee Fire Station at 508-539-1454 to see if there is a burn in progress before notifying other authorities.

Residents and visitors in the area may see or smell smoke during the burn. The exact date of the burn depends on having the right weather conditions and proper fine fuel moistures. If these burns cannot be executed this spring, they will be rescheduled for later in 2022.  A reverse 911 message will likely be sent out to all adjacent residences days prior to and the day before the burn notify them. Burning will be done under conditions of a permit from The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Air Quality Division. For more information on Fire Management on National Wildlife Refuges in the Northeast visit: www.fws.gov/northeast/refuges/fire.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service along with other partners protects and manages Mashpee NWR for nesting, resting, and feeding habitat for wildlife, with special emphasis on rare, threatened or endangered plants and animals such as the New England Cottontail.  The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.