Military park announces prescribed burns

Pea Ridge National Military Park will conduct prescribed fire operations sometime during the next several weeks, subject to weather conditions falling within the parameters of prescribed fire prescriptions. To assure visitor safety, some areas inside the park 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,” said Kevin Eads, park superintendent.

The maintenance and restoration of the historic landscape along with the reduction of available fire fuels and invasive plant species are the primary reasons for the prescribed fire operation.

“Fire is a natural process and it has been a part of the Arkansas landscape for thousands of years,” said Eads. “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 to achieve our resource management objectives.”

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

For additional information on whether or not prescribed fire operations will occur on any given day, please call the park’s Visitor Center at (479) 451-8122.

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 U.S. Highway 62. Visit us on Facebook or at: www.nps.gov/peri