Times Observer photo by Delaney Chase The controlled burn is pictured last week.

The Tracy Ridge area and Kinzua Beach are open to the public after last week’s prescribed fire in the Allegheny National Forest.

According to U.S. Forest Service officials, mop-up operations were completed over the weekend to monitor the project area and extinguish or remove any burning material. Temporary closure orders have been rescinded.

“The Tracy Ridge Prescribed Fire operations were completed successfully within the project boundaries,” the Forest Service said in a Facebook post Monday. “The use of prescribed fire in the Tracy Ridge area has reduced overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure, and natural resources from wildfire.”

The Tracy Ridge prescribed fire project area includes two adjacent burn units (Sugar Bay and Handsome Lake) in Warren and McKean Counties of the Bradford Ranger District. Prescribed fire operations will treat 2,044 acres located just south of Tracy Ridge Recreation Area along Pennsylvania Route 321, twenty miles southwest of Bradford.

The burn covered 2,044 acres of Tracy Ridge and 129 acres in Pleasant Township.

According to forest management officer Craig Kostrzewski, fire crews began preparations on April 23 including a smaller test burn to evaluate conditions before expanding to the full prescribed fire. The weather made for for good conditions due to warm weather and tomorrow’s high chance of rain to help completely extinguish the burn.

A helicopter helped with ignitions after testing was complete. Kostrzewski said using helicopters is the safest and most affordable method to ignite the fire, as the burn area is steep and rugged.Forest service personnel helped along the edges of the fire, while fishing and wildlife services are in boats to ensure the burn remains controlled.