Prescribed fire at Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal National Historical Park leads to multiple benefits

The prescribed fire at Spring Gap helped restore a sensitive area that supports rare vegetation.

NPS/C FISHTALER

In late March 2024, staff from 10 different national park units gathered at Spring Gap near Oldtown, MD to conduct a prescribed fire at C&O Canal NHP. About 50 acres were successfully treated using fire as a tool to reduce flammable wildland fuels, restore and maintain the cultural landscape as outlined in the park management plan, enhance wildlife habitat, and train firefighters for wildland fire suppression response. This type of activity happens at other parks within the National Capital Region (NCR), but this is the first opportunity to implement this type of project at C&O Canal.

Sarah Brown uses a driptorch to ignite a prescribed fire at Spring Gap, C&O Canal National Historical Park.

NPS/C FISHTALER

As wildland fire resources work together on planned projects, qualifications and skills gained can be used to successfully manage wildfires on all parks in the NCR, which typically has about 15 wildfires annually. In 2023, the region had 22 wildfires, with causes ranging from powerlines to equipment malfunctions, and arson. The regional wildland fire office at Harpers Ferry NHP assists all NCR units with fire-related issues including training, prevention, risk assessments, and fuel reduction projects.

Once completed, crews had burned around 50 acres.

NPS/C FISHTALER

Regional fire management officer, Zeke Seabright, noted “When we're not in ‘fire season’ in the east, NPS NCR personnel travel to the western US to assist with wildfire suppression incidents. This collaborative effort benefits all involved as we can supplement staffing for the area experiencing wildfires, and our personnel receive valuable experience that can be applied back in NCR to protect visitors, park structures, and rare ecosystems.”