Controlled fires planned in Smokies' Cades Cove

TOWNSEND, Tenn. — Several controlled fires are planned this week for about 450 acres in scenic Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Smokies managers say the fires are a cost-effective way to prevent the cove's open fields from being reclaimed by forest.

The controlled burns will be held Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, weather permitting.

The park usually conducts controlled burns in the spring, but the timetable has been changed because the Cades Cove loop road is scheduled to be closed next spring for repaving.

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Nov 03, 2009 - 6:57 p.m. EDT

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