Fire managers at Shenandoah National Park plan a prescribed burn 40 acres of Big Meadows and 20 acres in the park’s headquarters between March 11 and April 30.
A notice will be posted on the park’s website and social media platforms when dates for each prescribed burn are finalized, according to the National Park Service, which apparently still exists, so, good news there.
Fire managers anticipate one day of operations to complete the Big Meadows project and multiple days to complete the headquarters project.
A portion of Big Meadows (mile 51 on Skyline Drive), the open area across from Byrd Visitor Center, is burned each year for the purpose of maintaining the open vista and reducing the potential for wildfire by preventing encroachment from small trees and shrubs and reducing grass and shrub cover.
The Byrd Visitor Center, incidentally, is named for Harry Byrd Sr., the raging segregationist newspaper publisher and former US senator.
Areas of the park’s headquarters in Luray are treated each year to reduce the buildup of dead and down woody fuels that contribute to wildfire spread.
Smoke from the burn may be visible in and around the Big Meadows and headquarters areas. Visitors driving in areas of smoke should take additional care by slowing down and ensuring their headlights are on. All park facilities will remain open during the prescribed burn.
Access to Big Meadows will be restricted during the burn.
Access to headquarters will be limited to employees and business operations during the burn.
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Chris Graham
