Camp Inferno

North Carolina State Parks participated in Marion Fire Department’s weeklong Camp Inferno for McDowell County middle and high schoolers. On Aug. 2 the Visitor Center parking area turning into a temporary landing zone, as N.C. Forest Service brought in its district helicopter and a dozer equipped for wildland firefighting for a day of education on wildfire and controlled burning in western North Carolina.

“We showed them some of the tools we use and had the kids run through activities with the engine and talked about the helo and dozer,” “I talked to the kids about some of the fire ecology and why we light fire on purpose in parks when and where it’s appropriate.” - Andrew Slack Ecological Burn Coordinator for N.C. State Parks