10/13/2026
Forest Service News Release
Monongahela National Forest Plans Fall Prescribed Burns
Favorable weather conditions in place for hazardous fuels reduction work
ELKINS, W.Va., October 9, 2026 — Monongahela National Forest staff plan to conduct fall prescribed burns on 726 acres in Pocahontas and Tucker counties from mid-October through mid-November, weather permitting. The purposes of these treatments are to re-establish fire’s natural role in the forest ecosystem, improve forest health and wildlife habitat, and reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires.
Project areas planned for prescribed burns this fall include:
• Nursery Bottom: 52 acres (Tucker County)
• Upper John B. Hollow: 210 acres (Tucker County)
• Upper Greenbrier North: 464 acres (Pocahontas County)
Each burn area will be closed to the public on the day of the burn, and may be closed for several days after, to ensure public safety. Signs will be posted on roads near all prescribed burn areas before and during burning. Residents and Forest visitors may see and smell smoke for several days. If you encounter smoke on the highway, slow down, turn on your vehicle’s lights and drive appropriately for the conditions.
Prescribed burns are conducted under specific weather conditions and are designed to accomplish pre-determined forest management goals. Monongahela National Forest follows strict guidelines for conducting prescribed burns, and takes into consideration environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, smoke dispersion and wind. If any environmental conditions are not within limits, the burn will be postponed.
For more information about Monongahela National Forest, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/monongahela or https://www.facebook.com/MonongahelaNF.
About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation for more than 100 years. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and recreation opportunities. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, supports the nation’s forest industry and energy needs, and operates the largest and most respected wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. By providing assistance to state and private landowners and working with tribes and other partners, the Forest Service also helps steward an additional 900 million forested acres within the U.S.
Monongahela National Forest was established in 1920 and encompasses one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the United States, providing timber, water, grazing, minerals and recreational opportunities.
