News Release

Pea Ridge National Military Park Announces Prescribed Burns Spring 2023

Date: March 16, 2023
Contact: Nolan Moore, 479-451-8122 x1225

Pea Ridge National Military Park Announces
Prescribed Burns

 

Pea Ridge National Military Park will conduct prescribed fire operations starting the week of March 19th, subject to weather conditions meeting prescriptions. To assure visitor safety, some areas inside the park, including roads and trails, may be closed while fire operations are taking place and for a short period after completion.

“Weather conditions permitting, some fields and portions of forest will be burned to maintain and restore the historic landscape,” said Shelley Todd, park superintendent. PRESCRIBED FIRE PLANNED AT Pea Ridge National Military Park The reduction of available fire fuels and invasive plant species are the additional goals of the prescribed fire operation.  

“Fire is a natural process, and it has been a part of the Arkansas landscape for thousands of years,” said Todd. “Prescribed fire is a way for land managers to utilize fire as a tool in a carefully planned manner, while following very specific weather and personnel guidelines to protect public safety and achieve our resource management objectives.

”Fire managers make every effort to minimize smoke impacts on surrounding communities, though smoke-sensitive individuals may want to avoid outside activities on the day(s) of the operation. 

For additional information on whether prescribed fire operations will occur on any given day, please call the park’s Visitor Center at [phone].

Pea Ridge National Military Park preserves and commemorates the March 7-8, 1862, battle that helped Union forces maintain physical and political control of the state of Missouri. Administered by the National Park Service, the 4,300-acre battlefield is located 10 miles north of Rogers, just off US Highway 62.