Fort Scott National Historic site remains open, prescribed burn complete

FORT SCOTT, Kan. (KOAM) — The moderate spring temperatures, winds and humidity are the nearly perfect recipe for prescribed burns. Wednesday the Fort Scott National Historic site performed a controlled burn of about five acres.

Park Dir. Carl Brenner tells us they do one in the spring for three years and then a fall burn. He says it’s to help eliminate invasive species of plants and to restore the tallgrass prairie to what it was in the 1800s.

“We are working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service from Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge and the Fort Scott Fire Dept .”

After a fire briefing and some test burns about 1 p.m. the prescribed burn got underway.

“You may see and smell smoke coming from the national park, but during typical RX fire activity.”

Due to light winds the smoke dispersed up and over the highway, not causing any traffic issues on Hwy 69.

The park remains open normal hours despite the prescribed burn. Dir Brenner requests everyone stay off the blackened grass areas for a few days.

CIVIL WAR ENCAMPMENT WEEKEND …

What’s next on the schedule at the fort? In April they will hold their Civil War Encampment weekend. It’s a trip back in time to the 1860s.

“All events are completely free and for folks of all ages and abilities. We will have horses, cannons, and Infantry. Stop by anytime to see, hear, touch, and smell the 1860s.” Watch here on KOAM News Now for more specifics on that weekend.

WHAT IS… Fort Scott National Historic Site is a historical area under the control of the United States National Park Service in Bourbon County , Kansas , United States . Named after General Winfield Scott , who achieved renown during the Mexican–American War , during the middle of the 19th century the fort served as a military base for US Army action in what was the edge of settlement in 1850. For the next quarter century, it was used as a supply base and to provide security in turbulent areas during the opening of the West to settlement, a period which included Bleeding Kansas and the American Civil War