Prescribed burns planned Tuesday for Carteret County

The Croatan National Forest is conducting two prescribed burns in Carteret County. The burns include a 636-acre area northeast of Cape Carteret near the community of Ocean and a 983-acre burn 5 miles west of Newport. A helicopter will be utilized to implement the burns. The Forest Service said the public should be aware of smoke and firefighters working in these areas and avoid Millis Road. Prescribed burns reduce the amount of fuel on the forest floor which helps prevent wildfires. They also help improve habitat for native species, such as the longleaf pine and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.