Prescribed burn set for Cades Cove
By Joel Davisof The Daily Times Staff
Originally published: November 04. 2009 3:01AM
Last modified: November 03. 2009 5:24PM
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will conduct a series of controlled burns of fields in Cades Cove today through Friday, weather permitting.
Park managers plan to burn several tracts west of Hyatt Lane today and then burn the interior of the loop between Hyatt Lane and Sparks Lane Thursday and Friday.
The selected fields which total about 450 acres are being burned as part of a strategy to prevent the open fields from being reclaimed by forest.
Park firefighters will be assigned each day to ignite the grasslands and to make sure the fire stays within its prescribed boundaries. Strips of grass surrounding each field slated for burning have been mowed short to provide containment lines.
"At this point we do not expect to have to close the Cades Cove Loop Road, but will monitor the situation for smoke or other safety hazards," said Park Fire Management Officer Mark Taylor. "The public, of course, will notice smoke in the valley but it will dissipate quickly and not unduly impact their visit."
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