After much coordination, planning and obtaining the necessary approvals from various agencies including the Town of Hilton Head Island, the local Fire Department and South Carolina Forestry Commission, the Sea Pines Forest Preserve Foundation is pleased to announce that they plan to conduct prescribed burns in two areas of the Forest Preserve in the upcoming months. Prescribed burns are a valuable forest management tool and are an important part of Sea Pines Forest Preserve’s Ecological Land Management Plan. The burns mimic natural wildfires, which have historically shaped habitats in the Lowcountry, but are controlled to occur at the right place and right time. Conducting prescribed burns will help maintain a diverse forest understory and further protect the ecosystem of the Forest Preserve. Prescribed burning is used across the country and is used extensively throughout the Southeast as a vital element of proactive land management programs. Many local communities such as Palmetto Bluff, Spring Island, Moss Creek and Jekyll Island, currently use prescribe burns as an ecological tool to protect and enhance their forests. The upcoming prescribed burns are weather dependent. Sea Pines CSA will notify the community in advance of a prescribed burn once the Sea Pines Forest Preserve advises that weather conditions are favorable.

4/5/2022 –3:00 PM Update: Sea Pines Forest Preserve Prescribed Burn Nearing Completion

The prescribed burn that began earlier today in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve is nearing completion. Visible flames from the prescribed burn have diminished and crews will remain onsite to monitor the area and conduct clean-up.

4/5/2022 – Due to Favorable Weather Conditions, Sea Pines Forest Preserve Prescribed Burn is in Progress

Please be aware that a prescribed burn is taking place today, April 5, 2022, in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. There is a possibility that parts of the community may be able to visibly see or smell smoke. The Forest Preserve will remain open, but there will be restricted access. Please click here to view a map of the restricted area in the Forest Preserve, which will include the Shell Ring and the surrounding area.

For continued updates please visit www.seapinesliving.com/prescribedburn.

To view a prescribed burn activity map provided by the South Carolina Forestry Commission please click here.

For questions, please contact David Henderson, Director of Special Projects and Operations at wildlife@csaseapines.com.

4/4/2022 – Sea Pines Forest Preserve Prescribed Burn Scheduled for Tuesday, April 5th, weather permitting

The Sea Pines Forest Preserve Foundation is monitoring weather conditions for a possible prescribed burn for tomorrow, April 5th. If weather conditions are favorable, the prescribed burn will begin between 9 am-11 am and will conclude late afternoon. There is a possibility that parts of the community may be able to visibly see or smell smoke.

On the day of burning, the Forest Preserve will remain open, but there will be restricted access. Please click here to view a map of the restricted area in the Forest Preserve, which will include the Shell Ring and the surrounding area.

3/21/2022 – 4:00 PM Update: Sea Pines Forest Preserve Prescribed Burn Nearing Completion

The prescribed burn that began earlier today, March 21, 2022, in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve is nearing completion. Visible flames from the prescribed burn have diminished and the restricted area near White Ibis Swamp has been re-opened to the public. Crews will remain onsite to monitor the area and conduct clean-up.

3/21/2022 – Sea Pines Forest Preserve Prescribed Burn In Progress

Please be aware that a prescribed burn is taking place today, March 21, 2022, in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. There is a possibility that parts of the community may be able to visibly see or smell smoke. The Forest Preserve will remain open, but there will be a restricted area near White Ibis Swamp. Please click here to view a map of the Forest Preserve and the area that will be restricted during the prescribed burn.

For continued updates please visit www.seapinesliving.com/prescribedburn.

To view a prescribed burn activity map provided by the South Carolina Forestry Commission please click here.

For questions, please contact David Henderson, Director of Special Projects and Operations at wildlife@csaseapines.com.

Upcoming/ Potential Prescribed Burning Operations

March 17, 2022

The 2022 Sea Pines Forest Preserve Prescribed Burn Program began earlier this month with the prescribed burn which occurred on Friday, March 4.

Weather forecasts are being monitored and conditions could be favorable for the next prescribed burn cycle early next week (Week of March 21). Prescribed burning is weather dependent, and Sea Pines CSA will notify the community the morning of the anticipated prescribed burn once the Sea Pines Forest Preserve advises that weather conditions are favorable.

During the prescribed burns, The Forest Preserve will remain open, but there may be restricted areas.

3/4/2022 – 3:15 PM Update: Sea Pines Forest Preserve Prescribed Burn Nearing Completion

The prescribed burn that began earlier today, March 4, 2022, in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve is nearing completion. Visible flames from the prescribed burn have diminished and the restricted area near White Ibis Swamp has been re-opened to the public. Crews will remain onsite to monitor the area and conduct clean-up.

For questions, please contact David Henderson, Director of Special Projects and Operations at wildlife@csaseapines.com

Please be aware that a prescribed burn is taking place today, March 4, 2022, in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. There is a possibility that parts of the community may be able to visibly see or smell smoke. The Forest Preserve will remain open, but there will be a restricted area near White Ibis Swamp. Please click here to view a map of the Forest Preserve and the area that will be restricted during the prescribed burn. As a reminder, prescribed burns mimic natural wildfires, but are controlled to occur at the right place and right time. Conducting prescribed burns will help maintain a diverse forest understory and further protect the ecosystem of the Forest Preserve. Click here to view the full announcement of the Sea Pines Forest Preserve prescribed burn. For continued updates please visit www.seapinesliving.com/prescribedburn. To view a prescribed burn activity map provided by the South Carolina Forestry Commission please click here. For questions, please contact David Henderson, Director of Special Projects and Operations at wildlife@csaseapines.com.

Previous Prescribed Burning Operations

3/3/2022 – Sea Pines Forest Preserve Prescribed Burn Scheduled for Friday, March 4, 2022, weather permitting

We have been notified by the Sea Pines Forest Preserve Foundation that due to favorable weather conditions, a prescribed burn has been scheduled for Friday, March 4th beginning between 10:00 am-noon. The prescribed burn will conclude late afternoon and there is a possibility that parts of the community may be able to visibly see or smell smoke. On the day of burning, the Forest Preserve will remain open, but there will be a restricted area near White Ibis Swamp. Please click here to view a map of the Forest Preserve.

Please note this schedule is tentative and based upon the most current weather forecast and the decision to conduct the burn will not be made until closer to 10:00 am tomorrow morning. We will send an update to the community once we have been notified of the final decision.

Click here to review the full announcement of the prescribed burn.

For questions or concerns please contact David Henderson, Director of Special Projects and Operations, at wildlife@csaseapines.com