Fire managers for the National Park Service will be conducting a prescribed burn at the Vicksburg National Military Park, according to information from the National Park Service.

The project involves burning 40 acres between Old Graveyard Road, Confederate Avenue and North Union Avenue. The area was last burned in 2013.

“It’s that large open area around Graveyard Road, and maintaining that with lawnmowers and other equipment is a hazard, National Military Park Superintendent Bill Justice said. He said the period for the control burn began Jan. 20 and runs through Feb. 28.

“That’s a broad period. It needs to be that way because we want the perfect conditions,” he said. “We need the right conditions. Our fire folks have put together a fire plan and it has taken into account all the fire factors and safety factors necessary to do a burn like this properly and effectively, but mostly safely.”

The objectives of the fire at the park are to maintain the conditions of the battlefield as it was during the battle, maintain the open space character of the landscape, maintain the wildlife habitat and control invasive exotic plant species.

It is also expected to reduce shrub and woody plant species and reduce fuels in wooded areas to reduce fire hazard.

“By maintaining that as an open space, in addition to wildlife, it’s a key portion of the battlefield. It’s where the attack on May 19, 1863 occurred,” Justice said, referring to the Stockade Redan attack by Union troops, which was repulsed by the Confederates.

During the burn, the portion of the Al Scheller Hiking Trail around Graveyard Road will be closed, but no prolonged road closures are anticipated, according to the Park Service, although smoke from the burn may reduce visibility and require temporarily closing of limited areas to ensure public and firefighter safety.

On the day of the burn, runners and walkers will be encouraged to use alternative routes because of the potential for smoke. Current information about closures and fire activity will be posted on the park’s social media sites.

For more information including a map of the project area, and the park’s environmental assessment/fire management plan, can be viewed on the park website, www.nps.gov/vick. People can also contact Vicksburg National Military Park Fire coordinator Sara Strickland at sara_strickland@nps.gov, or 601-619-2911.

Vicksburg National Military Park is a unit of the National Park Service that preserves and protects the resources associated with the campaign for Vicksburg and provides an understanding of the events that occurred there within the context of American history.