San Jacinto Battleground to Conduct Prescribed Burn

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LA PORTE – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is conducting a prescribed burn Wednesday, Jan. 25, at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site.

Because specific conditions are required to conduct an effective and safe prescribed burn, TPWD staff will make a final determination on the designated morning whether conditions are favorable to a burn.

Prescribed burns are an important conservation tool used to improve habitat for wildlife by restoring forest and prairie lands within the park historically maintained by natural fires. By limiting the amount of available fuels, prescribed burns reduce the chance for a potentially destructive wildfire to occur.

The San Jacinto Monument and Battleship Texas will remain open to the public, however some areas of the battleground will be closed and traffic may be redirected at times throughout the day.

Local emergency management officials will be notified before the prescribed fire begin, but the public may see smoke in the vicinity of the San Jacinto Battleground or on nearby roads during the burn. Drivers are cautioned to reduce speed and use headlights when smoke is present.

Prescribed burns within state parks are conducted by TPWD staff who have undergone training and met national wildland firefighting certification standards. The park’s prescribed fire plan defines the conditions under which a prescribed burn may be conducted and guides fire crew members in managing the burns to prevent them from escaping into adjacent properties and to minimize the effect of smoke beyond the park boundary.