Park plans 1000-acre controlled burn at Cades Cove

Updated: Feb 5, 2024 / 05:45 PM CST

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The National Park Service is preparing to burn 1000 acres of fields in Cades Cove at Great Smoky Mountains National Park by the end of March.

NPS said that burn operations could begin as early as Saturday, February 3, weather permitting. Crews are monitoring conditions including vegetation, soil moisture, wind speed and direction, temperature and relative humidity to ensure that the burn can be conducted safely. If conditions are not met, NPS will identify another burn window in the winter or spring.

The loop road and historic structures will remain open during the burns, however, Hyatt Lane and the road to the Primitive Baptist Church will be closed. Visitors should also expect delays during burn operations. People are also asked to reduce speed in work zones, and to roll up their windows and turn on their headlights if smoke is present.

Crews plan to burn 338 acres in the Primitive Baptist unit this weekend and if conditions allow, they plan to burn 272 acres in the Increase Fields unit. As conditions allow, crews also plan to burn 291 acres in Cemetery Marsh and 85 acres in Old Field. As the burns are conducted, visitors should expect to see firefighters and equipment along Sparks Lane and Cades Cove Loop Road.

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In November, around 130 acres in Cades Cove were successfully burned before conditions became unfavorable.

According to Park Staff, controlled burns help maintain native plant species that provide cover and foraging opportunities for wildlife, including deer, turkeys, and ground-nesting birds. Burns have been conducted during the spring and fall over the last 20 years to reduce fuels, restore meadows, and maintain the historic landscape of Cades Cove.

“These burns have helped us to prevent encroachment of woody plant species and to preserve native herbaceous species that provide high quality cover and foraging opportunities for a diversity of wildlife including deer, turkeys and ground nesting birds,” wrote the NPS.

For more information on burns in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, click here.