Fire managers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park plan to begin conducting a series of controlled burn of fields in the interior of Cades Cove on Thursday, April 19 if weather conditions permit.  Park managers plan to burn a number of grassy parcels at a time as weather allows over the next few weeks.
      The selected fields are being burned as part of a cost-effective strategy to prevent the open fields from being reclaimed by forest.   The Park contracts to mow about 950 acres of fields that are clearly visible from the Cades Cove Loop Road twice a year.  The interior fields of Cades Cove, totaling around 1,000 acres, which are much less visible from the road, are kept open by burning or mowing on a three year rotation. This year's rotation calls for 300-400 acres to be treated with fire in 2007.
       Park firefighters and a Park engine will be assigned each day to ignite the grass lands 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.
      "During some of the burns Rangers may have to close the side road to the Primitive Baptist or the access road to Abrams Creek Trail for brief periods due to smoke, but other than that, the prescribed fires will not interfere with access to any other public use area in Cades Cove," 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." he said.

… read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.

... read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.