March and April 2005 were a milestone period
for Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (NRRA).
For the first time in decades, fire managers were able to
successfully burn areas of the park that were identified as
possessing high potential for benefits from fire.
Five separate prescribed fires (40 to 600
acres each) were conducted, totaling about 1,200 acres covering
less than 1.5% of the land area of the park. The burn plots
were located in Scott and Fentress Counties in Tennessee and
in McCreary County in Kentucky.
- The Monroe Fields Project (KY),
Newtie King Project (KY) and the Mitchell Fields Project
(TN) are all cultural landscapes which are being maintained
through the use of prescribed fire.
- The Divide Road Project (TN) helped to
reduce fuels adjacent to Pickett State Forest.
Personnel and equipment were provided by
Big South Fork NRRA and the Cumberland Gap Fire Use Module.
Crews of 20 – 25 firefighters and 4 engines were on
hand for each burn.
The park’s fire management plan, approved
in September 2004, outlines a multi-strategy approach utilizing
eight major tools or strategies for perpetuating park resources
and protecting local communities: fire suppression, prescribed
fire, mechanical fuel reduction, education, monitoring, research,
and preparedness activities. “By using these different
tools at the right times and in the right locations, we can
take advantage of fire’s positive benefits and also
reduce its harmful effects,” says Frank Graham, Chief
Park Ranger.
Contact: Steven Seven, Supervisory Park Ranger
Phone: (423) 569-9778
|
