Cumberland
Gap National Historical Park Park Implements 1st Season of Prescribed Burning
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
(NHP) successfully initiated their prescribed fire program
in spring 2005 with the completion of two prescribed burns:
The 50-acre Wilderness Road burn located
at the Wilderness Road Campground entrance along Hwy 58
in Virginia
The 140-acre Dark Ridge burn located
adjacent to the city of Middlesboro, Kentucky
The burns were conducted by the Cumberland
Gap NHP Fire Use Module, with assistance form other Cumberland
Gap NHP park personnel, the Great Smoky Mountain National
Park Fire Use Module and Fire Effects Team, and fire personnel
from Kings Mountain National Military Park.
In order to avoid direct effects on the
Indiana Bat and Blackside Dace, two threatened and endangered
species within the park, the prescribed burns were coordinated
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
In addition to accomplishing the park’s
objectives of reducing fuel loading near the National Park
Service boundary and helping slow wildland fire
spread and intensity, the prescribed burns will serve
as a great interpretive opportunity because of their proximity
to the Wilderness Road Campground and Highway 58.
Contact: Charlie Chadwell, Chief
Ranger
Phone: (606) 246-1054
Lassen Volcanic NP by Mike Lewelling
Cumberland
Gap National Historical Park
Park profile pages
