Keeping us green

Smokey the Bear doesn't have much down time at the Early County Unit of the Georgia Forestry Commission. Keeping the county's 202,100 acres of forest fire-free, presenting public service programs and performing a wide variety of services for landowners make for a full time job for Smokey and the staff at the Early County Unit.

During the 2006-07 fiscal year which ended June 30, the local forestry unit responded to 55 fires which resulted from a variety of causes including lightning, machine use, debris and smoking.

The unit issued 1,584 burn permits and plowed or harrowed 685 miles of presuppression firebreaks. The unit also assisted with eight prescribed burns and eight control burns.

In addition to their duties in Early County, chief ranger John Godwin and rangers Tony Gentry, Aaron Reichard and Steven Bonner traveled to Waycross to assist with the wildfires earlier in the year.

The Early County unit also worked with local landowners with forest management services including forest stewardship, conservation reserve program and rural forest assistance.

Locally, 262,361 commission seedlings were sold resulting in 437 acres planted in trees. Smokey the Bear visited 12 school classes during Fire Prevention Week and the local unit participated in four parades and supported the local forestry queen pageant.

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