Debris Pile Burn/Structural Fire Training Exercise May 3-5, 2013

Date: May 1, 2013

Catoctin Mountain Park to Conduct a Debris Pile Burn/Structural Fire Training Exercise Debris Pile Burn/ Structural Fire Training Exercise

See news release.

Catoctin Mountain Park and the Guardian Hose Company of Thurmont, MD will conduct a mutual Structural Fire Training Exercise May 3 - 5, 2013. The exercise, conducted on the recently acquired Braestrup Property is part of Catoctin's Five Year Fire Plan. Debris burning reduces the build-up of hazardous fuels that, under proper circumstances could ignite wildland fires. Implementing this approved prescribed fire meets the following fire plan objectives for the Braestrup property: restore the cultural landscape to the 1930's era, enhance joint training with cooperating agencies and provide fiscally responsible debris disposal.

The Braestrup property will be closed at noon on Thursday, May 2 and will reopen at dawn, Monday, May 6. Primary ignition will take place at 10:00 a.m., Friday, May 3. The fire will suppressed and mop-up operations concluded by Sunday, May 5. Smoke is not expected to impact areas beyond 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 Fire Management Officer Don Stanley at 301-416-0100.

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].