Heavy smoke spotted near SC-GA border. Here’s why
Heavy smoke filled the air near the South Carolina–Georgia border Monday afternoon, visible to drivers crossing the Talmadge Bridge connecting Savannah to Hutchinson Island.
Despite the somewhat ominous scene, the fire was deliberately set.
The haze stemmed from a prescribed burn on 455 acres in Jasper County, according to a burn activity map from the South Carolina Forestry Commission. It is one of 35 active prescribed fires happening statewide.
The fire is taking place at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, a 30,000 acre protected sanctuary for migratory birds and endangered species that lies in both Georgia and South Carolina. The intent of the fire is to support wildlife management, according to the burn map.
Prescribed fires can remove thick undergrowth, making travel and feeding easier for animals like turkey and deer. The fires also encourage growth for the animal’s food sources, according to the commission.
Until the burn is over, Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive, a one-way, 4.5 mile car loop, will stay closed at the refuge, according to their website. The trails north of SC 170 will remain open for hiking and bicycling.
