SULPHUR, OK - Chickasaw National Recreational Area (NRA) will resume a series of prescribed fires starting on Saturday, February 16th and lasting until February 26th (depending on weather conditions). The burns will occur at The Point, Five Lakes, Hunting and South Boundary areas of the park. The prescribed fires will burn slash from thinned eastern red cedar cut during the summer and fall of 2010 and 2012.
Weather permitting, fire managers plan to burn in the Five Lakes area on Saturday, February 16. The multi-use trail will be closed for public safety during the burn. Light winds from the west will move smoke to the east.. Ignition may begin about 4:00pm and should be complete by about 9:00pm. To date this year, fire managers have treated approximately 550 acres (out of approximately 3,000 total acres that are part of this project). Hot spots within the interior of completed burn units may continue to burn until they receive significant precipitation. Firefighters continue to patrol these areas and take action as needed. Fire managers still plan to burn the following units when conditions are favorable: Hunting, The Point and South Boundary areas. Temporary trail closures in the vicinity of the burn units may be implemented on the day of ignition for visitor safety. Each evening fire managers review forecasts for predicted wind direction and upper level mixing of smoke when determining which unit(s) to burn the following day.
Smoke from these prescribed fires may be visible in downtown Sulphur, Davis, Dougherty, Rock Creek, Veterans Lake, Buckhorn areas, Goddard Road, and along Chickasaw Trail but every effort will be made to minimize smoke impacts. Wind direction and upper level mixing of smoke will be utilized in an attempt to eliminate or reduce these inconveniences. Local residents and visitors in the area who are sensitive to smoke or have pre-existing respiratory problems should limit their outdoor activities and keep windows closed during the burn. If you have health problems that will be aggravated by smoke, we encourage you to call the park for further assistance at 580 622-7282.
Fire Information: (580) 622-7282 or www.inciweb.org
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
