Yesterday on our way into the marshes we arrived early to see the last remaining traces of a burn through the forest.

Each spring some parts of the states wildlife properties have a ‘controlled’ burn. This was likely from last week since only small thick areas were smoldering.

In the morning it can look a little surreal.

I’m sure some kind of announcement is made in advance, but I have never seen one. And yes, you can still drive the dirt roads during a burn. That is more than surreal. If you hit a hot spot it’s up to you to decide what to do. Make the wrong choice and you can still speed up and push through. Yep….

A typical burn only sets the low brush and dead trees to fire. The larger pines here are fine, just a a darker shade than before. This process keeps the wildfire potential at a minimum. Even lightening strikes (we have plenty) don’t usually start fires.

Donnelley wildlife area, South Carolina.