NPS - National Park Service

11/14/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/14/2024 11:35

Pea Ridge National Military Park Announces Prescribed Burns Fall 2024

Date:
November 14, 2024
Contact: Travis Cott, [email protected]

Pea Ridge National Military Parkwill conduct prescribed fire operations between November 20 and December 31, subject to weather conditions meeting prescriptions. To assure visitor safety, some areas inside the park, including roads and trails, may be closed while fire operations are taking place and for a short period after completion.

"Weather conditions permitting, up to 1,284 acres of fields and forest will be burned to maintain and restore the historic landscape of the battlefield area," said Shelley Todd, park superintendent. The reduction of available fire fuels and invasive plant species are additional goals of the prescribed fire operation.

"Fire is a natural process, and it has been a part of the Arkansas landscape for thousands of years," said Todd. "Prescribed fire is a way for land managers to utilize fire as a tool in a carefully planned manner, while following very specific weather and personnel guidelines to protect public safety and achieve our resource management objectives."

Fire managers make every effort to minimize smoke impacts to surrounding communities, though smoke-sensitive individuals may want to avoid outside activities on the days of the operations.

For additional information on whether prescribed fire operations will occur on any given day, please call the park's Visitor Center at (479) 451-8122.


www.nps.gov/peri
Pea Ridge National Military Park preserves and commemorates the March 7-8, 1862, battle that helped Union forces maintain physical and political control of the state of Missouri. Administered by the National Park Service, the 4,440-acre battlefield is located 10 miles north of Rogers, just off US Highway 62. Visit us on Facebook or at: www.nps.gov/peri

www.nps.gov
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