The Texas A&M Forest Service announced in a news release it will be conducting a prescribed burn on the W.G. Jones State Forest on Jan. 13.

The area being burned is south of FM 1488 between I-45 and Hwy. 242, and during this time, parts of the forest will be closed to the public. According to the release, local city officials and fire departments will be aware of the burning.

Prescribed burning is a form of forest control that involves careful monitoring and management of fire in areas to control unwanted growth, make way for reforestation and increase visibility.

According to Texas A&M, most East Texas pine forests are burned every two to three years. However, many forests have gone over 10 years without a prescribed burn.