Prescribed Fire Planned This Fall at Wind Cave National Park

Contact: Tom Farrell, 605-745-1130

HOT SPRINGS, SD - Planning is underway to burn 1,094 acres of land east of the park's headquarters this fall. Timing for the prescribed fire will depend on preparedness levels, moisture, weather forecasts, and resource availability. Fire management officials planned to burn this area last spring, but the project was postponed due to weather conditions being out of prescription on the day of the prescribed fire.

"Prescribed fires help maintain a healthy mixed-grass prairie ecosystem," said Park Superintendent Eric Gabriel. "They reduce fuel loads and the chances of a catastrophic wildfire along with keeping the balance between forest and prairie in check."

The primary vegetation within the project area is short grass. Ignition will take place through the utilization of ground resources. Assisting with the prescribed fire will be National Park Service personnel with support from other interagency resources.

During the day of the burn, smoke from the fire may be heavy at times along Highways 385 and 87 and visible from the surrounding region. The highways might be closed intermittently for safety reasons. Unless there is significant precipitation, smoke might be seen in the area for several days following the burn.

The Lookout Point, Highland Creek, and Wind Cave Canyon Trails will be closed during firing operations and longer if necessary. Other impacts to Park operations are expected but efforts will be made to minimize visitor impacts.

Prescribed fires are carefully conducted under identified and approved prescription parameters. Factors such as humidity, fuel moisture, wind speed and direction, and short and long-range weather patterns are all considered in establishing the acceptable conditions for conducting a prescribed fire. If the prescribed parameters cannot be met on a specific day, the planned prescribed fire is postponed.