Fire Regime

Prescribed burn viewed from fort.

NPS

On March 23, 2002, a fire burned more than 500 of the park's 800+ acres. The fire began on the north side of the Arkansas River, outside the park. As the fire continued to spread, it came within 150 yards of the fort. It then jumped to the south side of the river and burned 400 acres of park land. About 60 fire personnel and equipment from fire departments in La Junta, Cheraw, Swink, Rocky Ford, Hasty/McClave, Bent County/ Las Animas, Haswell, Sugar City, Crowley County, Fowler, and Manzanola responded to the scene. The fire was extinguished on March 26, 2003.

Fire monitoring plots have been established on the south side of the Arkansas River. Six plots are used to monitor the cottonwood trees, the cottonwood saplings, tamarisk trees, and smaller vegetation. We hope native plant succession has occurred after the fire.

Scientists with the Southern Plains Network collect long-term data on fire effects on grassland vegetation at Bent’s Old Fort.