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Great Smoky Mountains National Park Plans Prescribed Burns in Cades Cove Area

Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Appalachian Piedmont Coastal Fire Management staff plan prescribed burns in the Cades Cove (Tennessee) park area between March 6 and April 1. These burns are part of a routine effort to safely reduce fuel, restore meadow habitats, and maintain the historic landscape of Cades Cove.

According to the park system’s press release, the park has conducted prescribed burns for the last 20 years to maintain the historic landscape of Cades Cove.

Park managers closely monitor weather conditions such as vegetation and soil moisture, wind speed and direction, temperature, and relative humidity to ensure safety.

Visitors should anticipate the presence of firefighters and equipment along Cades Cove roads and may experience temporary road closures.

To guarantee public and firefighter safety, visitors should avoid stopping in work zones, reduce speeds, put windows up, and turn on headlights if smoke is on the roadway.

While the historic structures in Cades Cove will remain open during fire operations, visitors should be aware of the impacts of the burns on the surrounding area.

The upcoming prescribed burns in the Cades Cove area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will affect not only the park itself but also the nearby private campgrounds.

As the park’s press release indicates, visitors should anticipate the presence of firefighters and equipment along Cades Cove roads, and temporary road closures may occur.

This means that nearby private campgrounds, which serve as base camps or alternative accommodations for park visitors, may experience increased traffic and potential delays during the prescribed burns.

The smoke and fire resulting from the prescribed burns may also impact the private campgrounds near the national park. As a result, visitors staying in private campgrounds should expect to see fire and smoke during the burns and take precautions such as putting windows up and turning on headlights if smoke is present on the roadway.

Nearby private campgrounds may also need to take precautions, such as informing their guests about the prescribed burns and providing guidance on staying safe.

Despite these potential impacts, private campgrounds located near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park can also benefit from the prescribed burns as they contribute to the overall health of the park and its ecosystem, which could ultimately attract more visitors to the area.

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Hi, you might find this article from Modern Campground interesting: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Plans Prescribed Burns in Cades Cove Area! This is the link: https://moderncampground.com/usa/tennessee/great-smoky-mountains-national-park-plans-prescribed-burns-in-cades-cove-area/