See Something Burning In Colonie? Don’t Be Concerned!

Driving into work today, I noticed something concerning: a plume of smoke rising above the Pine Bush Preserve. Having moved here from Arizona, my thoughts immediately went to a wildfire, and I started to panic.

Luckily, it was nothing of the sort. In fact, what I saw was a necessary part of keeping the Pine Bush healthy.

What's That Smoke Coming From the Pine Bush?

If you're driving anywhere around Colonie today, you'll likely see the same plumes of smoke wafting over the Pine Bush, but not to worry, this is all by design. The area is undergoing a prescribed burn, which is a controlled scenario meant to keep up the area's biological health.

The burn will be taking place on October 2nd from 11am to sundown near the intersection at Apollo Drive and New Kramer Road. Road signs are up to ensure you know what areas to avoid.

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What Does a Prescribed Burn Do?

Otherwise known as a "Controlled Burn", Prescribed Fires are vital to keep our ecosystem running properly. Typically, these are used to clear overgrown brush that could potentially start an uncontrolled wildfire if conditions are right.

Aside from clearing brush that could be used as wildfire fuel, these burns also allow the state to study how a wildfire could start. By viewing how controlled burns spread through an area, crews can make an estimate on how these would spread without their supervision, ensuring a safety net for if an uncontrolled wildfire truly does strike an area.