Fire managers successfully completed three prescribed
burns in Shenandoah National Park in spring 2007. Two
were first-time projects, one for vista maintenance and the
other to promote oak regeneration; the third was part of a
continuing effort to maintain Big Meadow as a meadow.
At Beahms Gap, firefighters burned 4.3 acres to help restore
the historic vista along this section of the park’s Skyline
Drive. Located in the northern third of the park, the burn
unit included live and dead brush as well as grasses. It
burned hot, as planned. Not planned was the wildfire that
broke out later the same day. Fortunately, the fire at
Beahms Gap had quieted, allowing a group from there to
travel almost 30 miles south to contain and control the small
wildfire that evening.
Near Pass Mountain Access Road, fire managers treated 67
acres to promote oak regeneration and recruitment. This
complex, first-time burn presented many challenges that
were well met by planning, cooperation and flexibility. Several NPS areas, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the
US Forest Service, Americorps, Job Corps, and the
Commonwealth of Virginia contributed firefighters or
contingency forces.
At Big Meadow this year, staff burned 57 acres to maintain
the meadow. New participants and new observers brought
different perspectives. This included a fire scientist from a
national laboratory who observed the burn, taking another step towards developing a partnership
that may lead to improved fire behavior modeling.
Contact: Barb Stewart, Fire Communication and Education Specialist, NPS Northeast and
National Capital Regions
Phone: (434) 220-9065
*This story supports the National Fire Plan |
