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Hot Springs National ParkThe front of the Fordyce Bathhouse, the park visitor center.
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Hot Springs National Park
Prescribed Burn
aerial view of fire from almost directly overhead with wind blowing plume of smoke to the upper left of the photo

NPS photo

Aerial view of prescribe fire on North Mountain, April 12, 2006.

Hot Springs National Park is using prescribed or controlled fires to reduce the fuel load (leaf litter, limbs and logs) on the forest floor to prevent a hot, damaging fire.

Wildland Prescribed Fire Specialist from Buffalo National River and trained fire crew supervisor (Burn Boss) and crew members plan and carry out the burn.

These steps are followed when planning a prescribed burn:
1. Fire plan—outlines details according to regulations
2. Weather readings—wind and humidity must be within safe parameters
3. Equipment available—proper type and amount
4. Man power—enough to carry out a safe burn plan
5. Spread the word--press release
6. Ignite or light the fire at one edge of the area
7. Monitor burning area, making sure it doesn’t burn beyond the planned area
8. Cool off burn, let area burn out
9. Mop up

See pictures of the April 12, 2006 prescribed fire on North Mountain.
copy of lithograph from a publication showing the valley of the hot springs with Hot Springs Creek on the right and two men in the foregroun  

Did You Know?
Hot Springs Reservation, the first designation of Hot Springs National Park, was set aside by Congress in 1832. This makes Hot Springs National Park the oldest unit in the national park system, 40 years older than Yellowstone National Park.

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Last Updated: November 16, 2007 at 17:17 EST