HOT SPRINGS, S.D. – Planning is underway to burn 1,094 acres of land east of the park’s headquarters this April. Timing for the fire will depend on fuel moisture, weather forecasts, and crew availability.“
The primary objectives of the Lookout Flats fire are to reduce fuel loading, decrease encroachment of young ponderosa pine onto the prairie, and increase cover of native forbs,” said Acting Park Superintendent Milton Haar. “Prescribed fires help decrease the intensities of future fires and mimic the natural fire regimes of a mixed-grass prairie.”
The primary vegetation within the project area is short grass. Ignition will take place through the utilization of ground resources. Assisting with the fire will be National Park Service firefighters with support from other interagency resources.
During the day of the burn, smoke from the fire may be heavy at times along Highways 385 and 87 and visible from the surrounding region. The highways might be closed intermittently for safety reasons. Unless there is significant precipitation, smoke might be seen in the area for several days following the burn.
The Lookout Point, Highland Creek, and Wind Cave Canyon Trails will be closed during fire operations and possibly for the two weeks following the burn. Other impacts to Park operations are expected but efforts will be made to minimize visitor impacts.
This fire represents a continuation of the park's prescribed fire program which began in 1972. Sections of the park are burned, under favorable conditions, to simulate natural fires. Prescribed fires maintain the balance between forest and prairie, removes the build-up of dead fuels which reduces the chance of a catastrophic wildfire, and rejuvenates the native prairie grasses. Prescribed fires are carefully conducted under identified and approved prescription conditions. Factors such as humidity, fuel moisture, wind speed and direction, and short and long-range weather patterns are all considered in establishing the acceptable conditions for conducting a prescribed fire. If the prescribed set of conditions cannot be met on a specific day, the planned fire is postponed.