Northup said the keeping the fire in defined areas is not the same as letting the fire burn out of control and that crews have been successful in accomplishing their top aims – preventing serious injury and structures from being burned in spite of very intense fire behavior and the high risk conditions. He went on to say that the outcome of the fire, once extinguished could be positive.

“While the park did not ignite, nor wish for this fire under these very dry and windy conditions, natural resource managers feel that overall, the fire will be beneficial to forest health in this part of the park,” Northup said. “Having not burned for over 85 years, the Rocky Mount area of the park has had an unnaturally high level of fuel accumulation (leaves, pine needles, branches and fallen trees) and was destined to burn at some point.”

The fire will result in very little tree mortality, he said, and negligible negative impact to wildlife that will actually benefit from the acorns, blueberries and other seeds produced by plants rejuvenated by fire.