Prescribed burn coming to Chickamauga Battlefield on February 25

CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. (WDEF) — The National Park Service is planning a prescribed fire at the Chickamauga Battlefield during the week of February 25.

The park plans to burn approximately 500 acres north of Viniard-Alexander Road and west of Alexander Bridge Road.

There will be road closures taking place during the prescribed burn. Those include portions of Viniard-Alexander Road, Alexander’s Bridge Road and Jay’s Mill Road. All trails in the burn area will be closed as well.

The park service said they may close additional park roads if smoke conditions reduce visibility.

The National Park Service says these are the goals of the prescribed burn:

“The goals of this fire are to restore, protect, and maintain the historic and cultural landscapes; restore and maintain fire adapted plant communities; reduce hazard fuel accumulations; eradicate invasive woody and exotic vegetation species which compete with native vegetation and to maintain and promote suitable conditions for limestone glade communities.”

Weather conditions may impact the dates and timing of the prescribed burn.

Smoke will be visible during the burn, but NPS does not expect it to last long.