Weather permitting, National Park Service (NPS) fire managers will conduct a low intensity, one-day burn at the Fort Donelson National Battlefield between January 15 and March 30.The 60-acre Indian Creek East Prescribed Fire will promote the regrowth of native species and reduce hazardous forest fuels that have accumulated in the area. The burn will also re-open the understory, providing a less obstructed view of the Cumberland River/Lake Barkley. A panoramic view of the river was a reason for the site selection of the Fort Donelson National Cemetery in 1867.
The Indian Creek East burn will take place on the east side of Indian Creek, extending northward from the historic “Eddyville Road” trace, continue west of the Fort Donelson National Cemetery loop road, and the wooded section from north of the national cemetery to the Cumberland River/Lake Barkley. No roads or park facilities will be closed during the burn, though the National Cemetery Hiking Trail will be closed for the duration. Traffic control measures will be in place to manage travel along National Cemetery Drive during the fire activities.
The low intensity burn will be initiated only when winds are favorable to blow smoke across the river, away from nearby development and residences. Areas directly outside of the national cemetery unit of the park may see some mild, short-term smoke.
In 2019, Fort Donelson National Battlefield updated its Fire Management Plan, which provides the framework and guidance on how and when to use fire as a tool to manage ecological processes within the national park. Prescribed fires to both forest and fields help improve landscape health and encourage native species to thrive. These burns also reduce hazardous forest fuels, such as branches twigs and logs, the removal of which help to protect human life and property from potential wildfires.Many national parks benefit from similar prescribed burns. Stones River National Battlefield, a 570-acre NPS unit that is surrounded by the dense residential and commercial development of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, conducts prescribed fires in different areas of the park annually. The controlled activities have led to improvements of native species to both forest and field, reduction of fuels, and a return of the historic landscape appearance.
The plans for the Fort Donelson prescribed fire contain parameters that define the acceptable conditions under which a prescribed fire can be initiated. Prior to implementing a burn, fire managers consult with agency meteorologists and evaluate current conditions for fire safety and smoke management. Only when all required conditions fall within those parameters does a prescribed burn occur.
When suitable fire conditions are anticipated, community offices, local emergency services, nearby land management agencies and wildfire programs, and news and media outlets will receive releases with specific information. The same notifications and updates will be posted on the Fort Donelson web page ( Fort Donelson National Battlefield (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) ) and its Facebook site ( www.facebook.com/fortdonelsonnps ).
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