Safety Cited in Necessary Burn in North Little Rock’s Burns Park
North Little Rock, Arkansas… (Thursday, March 28, 2024)… A prescribed burn in North Little Rock’s Burns Park is planned for Friday, March 29, 2024. This burn is planned and recommended by the Arkansas Forestry Commission, Central Arkansas Master Naturalists, The Nature Conservancy, and the North Little Rock Fire Department. Preparation for the burn will begin around 9:00 am and the burn will continue through sometime Friday afternoon.
Visitors to the Park will be prohibited from entering certain areas of the park during the burn period. Residents and visitors in central Arkansas may smell and see smoke coming from the park. This particular day was selected for its wind direction and speed to help ensure the smoke will rise up and away with minimal, temporary impact to the area.
- Burn: 37 acres north of Joe K Poch Road
- Staging area: Softball Complex Parking Lot
- Road closures: Joe K Poch Road between the Hospitality House and Funland Drive.
- Areas closed: north of Joe K Poch Road across from the tennis center
- There will be residual smoke and embers visible throughout the night following the burn and will be monitored.
- Areas affected by the smoke include Levy neighborhood and other areas near Burns Park.
- This burn will help reduce fire fuel and improve wildlife habitat.
- We do encourage people to close their windows and those with serious respiratory issues should consider remaining indoors.
- As the air temperature cools, remaining smoke may settle in low-lying areas such as Burns Park and the Arkansas River.
- Staff will monitor the burn area throughout the night.
- Officials from the Parks and Recreation Department will be on-hand within Burns Park to answer questions from the public and to help direct traffic around the burn area.
For more information, contact 501-791-8538.