New River Gorge National River Firefighters and Native Grasses Benefit from Prescribed Burn National Fire Plan – Firefighting *
Fires can be teachers. Among the firefighters successfully
completing the Sandstone prescribed fire were a burn boss
trainee and two engine boss trainees. Afterwards, an
information officer trainee learned more about sharing fire
stories on the web. The three NPS employees and one redcarded
member of the Beckley Fire Department worked
with qualified staff to complete elements of their NWCG
(National Wildfire Coordinating Group) Task Books. At
New River Gorge National River and around the country
experience on prescribed fires is important for the
development of effective fire managers.
The primary resource objective of the 1.5 acre fire was to
encourage the growth of native grasses. Conditions were
right for the planned burn on March 19th. Trainers, trainees, firefighters and the Green Sulphur
District Fire Department kept the flashy fire on the steep slopes where it belonged, away from the
visitor center. A local newspaper and television station came out to capture the story. It appeared
that night on WVNS-TV 59 News and on the front page of the next day’s Beckley Register-Herald.
Contact: Barb Stewart, Fire Communication and Education Specialist, NPS Northeast and
National Capital Regions Phone: (434) 220-9065
