Date: November 2, 2009
Contact: Toni Collins, 870-741-5446, x276
The National Park Service is planning to conduct a prescribed fire operation this week on North Mountain and area trails, weather conditions permitting, Hot Springs National Park Superintendent Josie Fernandez announced today.
The North Mountain Prescribed Fire is set to be completed sometime between Wednesday and Friday near the Hot Springs Mountain at the Gorge Trail, Hot Springs Mountain at Dogwood Trail, and Gorge Trail at Dead Chief Trail.
“There are many reasons for using prescribed fire in this area,” said Fernandez. “Oak and pine trees need fire to thrive, or they may be overtaken by shade-tolerant species such as maples and poplars. Grasses and other plants that provide food and cover for wildlife generally need sun, and fire creates openings in the canopy to meet that need. We also hope to reduce nonnative species, and increase native species in the park, by restoring this natural process to the ecosystem. And just as importantly, we will reduce the fuel load – or ‘burnable material’ – to help lessen the impacts of a future wildland fire.”
The prescribed burn operation will be conducted under precise weather conditions by well-qualified fire management professionals. One of the planning priorities was to minimize smoke impacts to surrounding communities, though smoke-sensitive individuals may want to avoid outside activities on the day of the operation.
For more information on the North Mountain Prescribed Fire, or the Hot Springs Fire Management Plan, contact Prescribed Fire Specialist, Tony Collins, at 870-741-5446, ext. 276.
