BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — More than a dozen U.S. Forest Service employees are without work in Burke County due to the federal government shutdown.
[ [RELATED: Blue Ridge Parkway affected by federal government shutdown] ]
The Pisgah National Forest covers more than a half-million acres in North Carolina, but there are very few workers maintaining the area because of the stalemate between President Donald Trump and congressional leaders.
Eyewitness News reporter Dave Faherty traveled to the Linville Gorge in Burke County. Watch the video above to hear what he learned about the lasting impact the government shutdown could have on not only cleanliness, but on wildfires.
[ALSO READ: Government shutdown hampers college aid application process]
Channel 9 learned all prescribed burns, which help prevent larger fires, are not happening because employees have been temporarily laid off.
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