ROLLA, Mo. — Mark Twain National Forest employees have begun conducting spring prescribed burning projects as weather allows, at locations across the forest.
Prescribed fires are used to reduce the threat of wildfire and to improve the health of native plants and wildlife habitat. Deer, turkey, quail, and other species benefit when plants they depend on for food and cover are rejuvenated using prescribed fire. For the most up-to-date information, follow the forest on social media at www.facebook.com/marktwainnationalforest.
As favorable prescribed fire conditions happen at the same time across much of Missouri, each geographic unit of the forest will conduct planned burns over the next couple weeks. For example, the southern part of the forest will have projects happening in the Cane Ridge area between A Highway and Hwy 67, and it will conduct more prescribed burning in areas of Shannon County (east of Winona) and Carter County (north of Fremont). Each ranger district has similar projects on standby.
A prescribed fire is a fire ignited by highly trained firefighting personnel under very specific fuel and weather conditions. Each prescribed burn will be conducted when favorable atmospheric conditions exist. These weather conditions disperse the smoke quickly and minimize smoke impacts to local communities.
Although some smoke may be visible and affect nearby communities, agencies work closely with the National Weather Service and use smoke monitoring stations to predict potential smoke impacts. Monitoring and coordination enable prescribed burn planners to keep the smoke generated by the fire within federal and state air quality standards.
Neighboring landowners will be contacted prior to ignitions. Signs will be posted on roads and trails near prescribed fire operations when burning is in progress. If you encounter smoke on the highway, please slow down, turn on your vehicle’s lights and drive cautiously, watching out for firefighting equipment and other vehicles that may be stopped along the road.
MTNF develops burn plans for each prescribed fire. The plans include criteria used to make burn-day decisions. Criteria assessed include temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, plants’ moisture levels and terrain. Burn plans also outline strategies to promote smoke dilution and dispersion, accomplished by controlling the rate of smoke emissions and minimizing smoke output by applying appropriate burning techniques.
Prescribed fires are usually conducted using hand crews, although some also utilize helicopters. The desired effects are reducing the fuel-loading in the hardwood ecosystems, stimulating the grass/forbs plant community and maintaining open areas in glade and prairie ecosystems. The planned burns mimic the historic fire occurrence for the areas in which they are planned. In some places, the prescribed fire also allows for efficient clearing of vistas around popular recreation areas.
MTNF coordinates with other federal and state land managers and some non-profit and private landowners as partners in the spring prescribed burn efforts.
If you have questions about prescribed fire being conducted by Mark Twain National Forest, please email Cody Norris, public affairs specialist, at cody.s.norris@usda.gov. You may also contact a Forest Service office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday at these numbers:
• Forest Supervisor’s Office 573-364-4621
• Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs Ranger District 417-683-4428
• Eleven Point Ranger District 573-996-2153
• Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek Ranger District 417-967-4194
• Poplar Bluff Ranger District 573-785-1475
• Potosi/Fredericktown Ranger District 573-438-5427
• Salem Ranger District 573-729-6656