Debris Pile Burn/Structural Fire Training Exercise Rescheduled for May 10-11, 2013

Date: May 4, 2013

Catoctin Mountain Park Postpones Debris Pile Burn/Structural Fire Training Exercise

Debris Pile Burn/ Structural Fire Training Exercise

See News Release.  

Map.

Due to wind conditions that are outside of the fire prescription, Catoctin Mountain Park and the Guardian Hose Company of Thurmont, MD will postpone a mutual Structural Fire Training Exercise May 3 – 5, 2013. The new date for the exercise will be May 10-11, 2013.The exercise conducted on the recently acquired Braestrup Area is part of Catoctin's Five Year Fire Management Plan.Debris burning reduces the build-up of hazardous fuels that, under proper circumstances could ignite wildland fires. Implementing this prescribed fire meets the following fire plan objectives for the Braestrup Area: 1) restore the cultural landscape 2) enhance joint training with cooperating agencies and 3) provide fiscally responsible debris disposal.

The Braestrup property will be closed at noon on Thursday, May 9 and will reopen at dawn, Monday, May 13. Primary ignition will take place at 10:00 a.m., Friday, May 10. The fire will be suppressed and mop-up operations concluded by Sunday, May 12. Given favorable wind conditions, smoke is not expected to impact areas west of the park boundary including State Route 491 and Buck Lantz Road. A map of the burn site is attached.

Please direct questions about the Fire Training Exercise to Superintendent at 301-663-9330.

Catoctin Mountain Park is one of over 400 units administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. The park Visitor Center, located on State Route 77 three miles west of Thurmont, Maryland, is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., and from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Correspondence should be addressed to: Superintendent, Catoctin Mountain Park, 6602 Foxville Road, Thurmont, MD 21788. Our website address is www.nps.gov/cato.General information can be obtained by calling the Visitor Center at [phone].