LURAY, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Shenandoah National Park announces they’re doing the first of what are two controlled burns they be conducting possibly through next month Tuesday through Thursday at the park’s Luray headquarters. Park leaders urge motorists making their way along Skyline Drive around Thornton Gap, and on Route 211 west of Skyline Drive where the HQ is, to turn on headlights and drive slowly through the smoke. They’ll be prescribed burning approximately 20 acres around the headquarters. Rangers say areas around the park’s headquarters are treated each year to reduce the buildup of dead and downed woody fuels that contribute to wildfire spread.

SNP issued a release Friday saying they’ll be doing this burn as well as another at Big Meadows sometime between today and April 30. The park has not scheduled the Big Meadows prescribed burn, which they say will be about 40 acres, at this time. They’ll announce via media and post on its website and social media platforms when the dates for the Big Meadows burn are finalized, though the burn is only expected to take one day.