News Release

Prescribed Fire Planned at Badlands National Park

Date: November 4, 2021
Contact: Mike Carlbom, 605-433-5279

Interior, SD - “The staff at Badlands National Park is planning to conduct a prescribed burn to restore the natural process of fire to the prairie ecosystem and to reduce the build-up of dead and dried fuels,” announced Superintendent Mike Pflaum. The fire will be ignited between November 7 and November 9.

Staff will be watching for a "weather window" that meets necessary conditions, such as temperature,relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and the amount of moisture in the dead vegetation. If conditions are not exactly right, the fire will be rescheduled for next year. Depending on conditions, 1,700 acres will be burned in the Door RX Unit in the northeast area of the park. There are no road closures planned.
Both 240 Loop Road and Old NE Road will be impacted by short periods of smoke and firefighters may delay traffic. The Castle Trail from Doors and Windows parking lot to Old NE Road will be closed. All burn areas will be closed to the public until the prescribed fire is completed.

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