Prescribed burn to take place at Shenandoah National Park headquarters

PAGE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A prescribed fire to burn piles will take place at Shenandoah National Park on Thursday and Friday, according to an announcement by the National Park Service.

According to the service, the prescribed burn will take place on Thursday, Jan. 29, through Friday, Jan. 30, at the park's headquarters in the town of Luray in Page County.

Officials said smoke may be visible in and around the area of the headquarters.

Visitors driving in smoky areas have been advised to drive carefully, slow down, and ensure their headlights are on.

Access to the park's headquarters will reportedly be limited to employees and business operations during the burn.

The National Park Service said prescribed fires to burn piles are ignited by fire managers only when a certain set of conditions are met, including temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, fuel moisture and resource availability.

The service added that burn operations are carried out as interagency projects, with local support, under the guidance and direction of National Park Service personnel.