Goblin Knob, Brooks Knob, and Peanut Knob burn units represent 3,827 acres of prescribed fire completed in Mammoth Cave National Park in FY2008.
“One of the success stories of 2008 is completing six miles of fuel reduction and modification along the park boundary,” said Superintendent Patrick Reed. “Brooks Knob was within a mile of Brownville, the county seat of Edmonson County. And the county played a role in this success.”
Since the park began its prescribed fire program, nine miles of boundary have been treated with fire. Though in a rural setting, communities, farms, residences, and businesses adjoin the park boundary. Park managers are working to improve the interface between the park and its neighbors.
“Drought conditions in the last few years have left dead and downed trees in the woods,” added Reed. “With fire we can efficiently reduce fuels that could lead to a large forest fire. This year we used prescribed fire to modify the forest, removing the shrub layer to open up the woods – again to reduce fuels.”
Mammoth Cave partners with eight local volunteer fire departments, providing firefighting equipment through the Rural Fire Assistance Program. The Lincoln (KY) Volunteer Fire Department supplied a water tender and staged a helipad on its property just north of the park.
“We are most grateful to Lincoln Fire Chief Daymon Sanders for allowing us to use the grounds around the fire station as a helibase,” said Reed. “Once airborne, the ship was one to two minutes from each of the burn units. It couldn’t have been a better location. We saved time and fuel.”
Contact: Rich Caldwell, Fire Management Officer/Park Ranger
Phone: (270) 758-2119
*This story supports the National Fire Plan |
