The Nature Conservancy says its ready for the controlled burn season, which runs through August.
The Conservancy and its partners burn longleaf pine forest from Onslow County to Brunswick County and east to the Sandhills. Longleaf pine is fire dependent, meaning it needs regular fire to thrive.
Conservationists say fire removes shrubs, creating better habitat for a host of animals and plants. Regular fire also benefits people living nearby, removing the buildup of fuel that could drive large forest fires.
The Nature Conservancy says people have set fires in the region for millennia, and archeological research shows that fires were set as far back as 10,000 years ago.