Prescribed burns to take place at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield this week

REPUBLIC, Mo. -- Wilson's Creek National Battlefield plans to conduct prescribed burns in the park between Monday, Dec. 9 and Thursday, Dec. 12, depending on weather conditions.

The prescribed burns will be conducted by National Park Service fire personnel and are expected to last multiple days.

Some trails, trailheads, parking areas and battlefield areas in the park will be closed down as fire operations begin for visitor safety. The tour road may also be closed during this time, but the museum and the visitor center will continue to be open.

The prescribed burns are planned to occur in the following areas:

• Northwest around the junction of Farm Road 182 and Highway ZZ.
• At stop 2 east of the tour road.
• Southwest of stop 5 of the tour road.
• The southwest boundary of the park east of Highway ZZ near Terrell Creek.

The prescribed fires are part of an effort by Wilson's Creek and the National Park Service to restore the historic upland savanna landscape that was much of the park's vegetation during the 1861 battle. The park says the prescribed burns will lessen the number of woody plants and invasive plant species in the area as well as foster better soil conditions for native seeds.

“Prescribed fire is a tool used in a carefully planned manner, following guidelines to protect public safety, to achieve resource management objectives,” said Superintendent Sarah Cunningham.

Although fire managers will make sure smoke impacts in the area are at a minimum, the park says smoke may be visible in or near park lands and roadways and that smoke-sensitive individuals might want to avoid the area during operations.

Additional information about the prescribed fires and closures this week can be found at nps.gov/wicr, the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield Facebook page or by calling the Visitor Center at 417-732-2662/417-732-6596.