Prescribed fires to improve habitat at Cuyahoga Valley National Park

BRECKSVILLE , Ohio (WJW) — Fire smoke may be visible near Cuyahoga Valley National Park through the end of the year, as crews use controlled fires to improve soil and habitat.

The prescribed fires are planned at three locations around the park between Thursday, Nov. 7, and Dec. 31. They're intended to burn invasive plants, improve soil for native seeds and maintain habitat, according to a Thursday news release from the National Park Service .

"The prescribed fire program at Cuyahoga Valley National Park is conducted by trained and experienced National Park Service fire personnel," reads the release. "Smoke dispersal is a primary concern and park staff will do everything possible to limit smoke in the area by monitoring wind and atmospheric conditions prior to ignitions. However, smoke drifting in and around park lands and roadways is possible."

Among the total 182 acres set to be burned is about 40 acres at the site of the former Richfield Coliseum along state Route 303 near the Interstate 271 interchange, reads the release. A prescribed fire happened there in 2022.

The second site is about 129 acres inside Terra Vista Natural Study Area in Valley View, northeast of the intersection of Canal and Tinkers Creek roads. Prescribed fires happened there in 2017 and 2021.

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The third site is an about 13-acre plot in Boston Township off Boston Mills Road, south of Interstate 80. A prescribed fire happened there in 2021.

There are no set dates for the fires. They're expected to happen over the next several weeks, but can only happen under the right conditions, including air temperature, wind speed and direction and relative humidity.