BELLEVUE, Neb. (KMTV) — If you see smoke near Fontenelle Forest on Friday, there may be no reason for alarm.
In a release, the park says a prescribed burn is planned provided weather conditions are acceptable for a burn permit. Approximately 50 acres adjacent to the Nature center at set for burning at 1 p.m. During that time, the boardwalk will remain open.
As to why the burn is occurring, the release says, "We use prescribed fire as one of our management tools in our oak woodland/savanna habitat restoration program, as this habitat is a fire dependent system. The low-intensity, controlled burns help to combat invasive plants, and restore the once-diverse oak woodland habitat through shrub and tree control."
Fontenelle Forest uses prescribed burns February-November.
