Wildland firefighter monitoring a prescribed burn.
NPS Photo
Fire on the Landscape at Kings Mountain National Military Park
Sharp-eyed visitors to Kings Mountain National Military Park may notice blackened tree trunks or patches of scorched ground along trails. This often leads to the question, “Did you have a fire here recently?” While fire is a regular and important part of the park’s natural resource management, these fires are not the wildfires that most people are imagining. What you’re seeing are the results of the park’s prescribed fire. These fires are carefully planned and conducted by trained wildland fire personnel to meet specific land management objectives. Fire is an essential and natural process that has shaped the landscape of Kings Mountain National Military Park for thousands of years. Prescribed fires are conducted at the park to reduce the risk of wildland fire, and to restore native vegetation and historic landscapes. All areas of historic, cultural, and ecological importance are identified and protected throughout the planning and implementation of prescribed fires.
Burn marks on a tree at Kings Mountain NMP
NPS Photo
Wildfires and Prescribed Burns
Wildfires and prescribed fires are two very different types of fires. A wildfire is an unplanned fire that spreads without immediate control and is typically caused by lightning or human activity. They can be large or small. How they grow while burning is dependent on a variety of factors, such as wind, temperature, humidity, the presence of fuel, and topography—flames will burn faster if they’re going uphill rather than downhill.
Wildfires can occur at any time throughout the year. These fires become dangerous when they start to burn out of control and move from undeveloped wildlands into developed or inhabited areas. While wildfires can be incredibly damaging, that does not mean that all fires are bad. Remember, wildfires are a natural process that many ecosystems have adapted to over time and even benefit from.
A prescribed burn.
NPS Photo
Unlike wildfires, prescribed fires are planned and conducted under specific environmental conditions to accomplish management goals. Evidence suggests that people, including Indigenous communities, have used fire to shape and maintain ecosystems for thousands of years.
Prescribed fires are carefully planned by experts and are used to achieve land management objectives.
A prescribed fire is a planned fire; it is also sometimes called a “controlled burn” or “prescribed fire burn,” and is used to meet management objectives. A prescription outlines conditions such as weather, fuels, and staffing that must be met to ensure safety and success. Before any prescribed fires are permitted, the park must complete a fire management plan and a prescribed fire plan. Each prescribed fire must meet all the conditions identified in a go/no-go checklist before ignition. When fire cannot be used, most fuel reduction work is done mechanically—by thinning, cutting, or piling vegetation. In some cases, it’s a multiple-step process in which a mechanical treatment is done first, then the materials are put in piles and burned when the weather allows.
Wildland Firefighters igniting a burn at Kings Mountain NMP
NPS Photo
Aftermath of a prescribed burn near the US Monument
NPS Photo
Why We Burn
Kings Mountain National Military Park uses prescribed fire to reduce hazardous fuels, restore cultural landscapes, and promote forest health. The inherent danger for a catastrophic wildfire increases each year across the country due to fuel build-ups caused by insect damage, violent storms, and drought. Prescribed fire, unlike wildfire, is practiced when conditions are favorable for fire personnel to conduct the burn for the desired effects. The benefits of prescribed fire are remarkable. Prescribed fire reduces fuel accumulations, recycles nutrients, promotes biodiversity, and enhances wildlife habitat.
Recent research identified the need for prescribed fire to restore the landscape to that of the 18th century. The burning regime established by the park for the management of the cultural landscape aims to recreate the open, grassy woodlands documented at the time of the Revolutionary War. Such a forest was described in Dr. J.B. Landrum's book, Colonial and Revolutionary History of Upper South Carolina:
"Up to the breaking out of the Revolutionary War, the woodlands in the upper regions of South Carolina were carpeted with grass and the wild pea vine... while flowers of every description were seen growing all around. The forests were imposing; the trees were large and stood so wide apart that a deer or buffalo could be seen at a long distance."
In simple terms, the park’s prescribed fire program reduces the risk of wildfires, enhances biodiversity, and supports the restoration of the battlefield to its 18th-century condition.
Landscape following a successful prescribed burn at Kings Mountain NMP
NPS Photo
Fire Safety
Keep these tips in mind before you leave home and while you're on the trail to have an enjoyable outdoor experience during fire season. Most wildfires are human caused. The best way to stay safe is to prevent wildfires from happening!
If you’re planning to visit Kings Mountain National Military Park during fire season keep these tips in mind to ensure you have a safe visit!
Pay attention to signs, do not enter closed areas. Follow directions given by emergency personnel if you are in the area of a wildfire or prescribed fire.
If you see smoke, fire, or suspicious activities, note the location as best you can and report it to authorities (such as a ranger) or call 911. Do NOT approach fires or suspicious activity.
If you see a wildland fire, avoid traveling near it and report its location to authorities (such as a ranger) or call 911.
Check the forecast before you go. While recreating, watch for sudden changes in the weather or changing weather conditions. For example, if you see or hear a thunderstorm approaching, consider leaving the area.
Check air quality at your destination or area of travel. Use airnow.gov to check air quality, access a fire and smoke map, and tips on how to be smoke ready. For some parks, you can check live weather and air quality so you can be prepared before you go!
Wildland Firefighters monitoring a burn at Kings Mountain NMP
NPS Photo
You can do your part to help reduce the risk of wildfires by following these tips!
During periods of high fire danger, consider alternatives to campfires, such as a propane campstove. It may be a great opportunity for some fantastic stargazing.
Practice Leave No Trace principles—pack out cigarette butts and burned materials from your camping area.
Pack a portable fire extinguisher with you when you travel.
Build campfires in designated areas like a fire ring. Make sure it is fully extinguished before leaving the area, it should be cold to the touch. Never leave a burning or smoldering campfire unattended. Learn more about campfire safety.
If you are using a portable stove, make sure the area is clear of grasses and other plants that could easily catch fire. Prevent stoves from tipping and starting a fire.
Do not drive your car or ATV and park in tall, dry vegetation, such as grass. The hot underside of the vehicle may start a fire.
If you're going on a hike, here are some other safety items to pack before leaving your car: paper maps, compass, flashlight, cell phone and/or emergency locator device, sun protection, water, and food. Learn more about how to Hike Smart and the 10 Essentials you need.
