National Park Service to Burn Debris Piles This Fall

Date: September 27, 2011

The National Park Service will burn debris piles this fall at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. About 45 burn piles were produced as non-native Austrian pines were cut during an invasive tree removal and dune restoration project. Burning these piles will remove the woody material from what used to be a more open beach area, and allow native dune vegetation to again become established. The restoration area is located in a remote section of dunes about a mile southwest of the mouth of the Platte River.

To ensure safe, but effective consumption of the piles, they will be burned only under a specific set of weather and fuel conditions, or "prescription." In addition to safety, smoke dispersal is a primary concern and wind direction and speed will be monitored to minimize smoke drifting into developed areas and roadways from the remote fire location. The prescribed fire program at the National Lakeshore is conducted by trained and experienced National Park Service fire personnel.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is one of 395 units of the National Park System ranging from Yellowstone to the Statue of Liberty. More information can be found at http://www.nps.gov/slbe/.
www.nps.gov

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 395 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.