BRECKSVILLE, Ohio - The National Park Service will conduct 2 prescribed fires, when conditions allow, between April 26 and May 28. The goal of the planned fires is to improve natural habitat. Specifically, the fires will burn the invasive plant species and create good soil conditions for native seeds.
The first prescribed fire is planned for a 13-acre area in Boston Township, within Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The burn location is off Boston Mills Road just south of Interstate 80. The second prescribed burn is planned for a 45-acre section of Terra Vista Natural Study Area in Valley View (northeast of the intersection of Canal Road and Tinkers Creek Road). A prescribed burn was conducted in 2016 at the Terra Vista location. This second burn will continue the success of managing invasive plant species in that area.
The prescribed fire program at Cuyahoga Valley National Park is conducted by trained and experienced National Park Service fire personnel. Smoke dispersal is a primary concern, and park staff will do everything possible to limit smoke in the area by monitoring wind and atmospheric conditions prior to ignitions. However, smoke drifting in and around park lands and roadways is possible.
Before burning, a designated set of conditions must exist including ideal air temperature, wind speed and direction, and relative humidity. Burning may occur any time between April 26 and May 28 on a day when the right conditions exist, so it is not possible to schedule the exact date ahead of time. Weather conditions will be monitored throughout the duration of the burn to ensure safety.
CVNP encompasses 33,000 acres along the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio. Managed by the National Park Service, CVNP combines cultural, historical, recreational, and natural resources in one setting. For more information, visit us at www.nps.gov /cuva on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, or call 440-717-3890
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Tags: fire prescribed burn prescribed burns natural resource management invasive plant management
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
