With favorable weather conditions in the forecast for this weekend, August 22-23, 2020, a controlled burn of 59 total acres is planned around Lake Ricks approximately five miles northwest of downtown Hot Springs.
Steep Creek Fire and Land Management will be executing their prescribed burn plans for 59 acres of the Southwest Unit around Lake Ricks. This area has the potential for low to moderate smoke production. The ecological and hazardous fuels reduction burn aims to reduce organic carbon in the City of Hot Springs drinking water supply; invigorate herbaceous understory; maintain and improve biodiversity, habitat structure and composition for wildlife habitat; reduce mid-story and understory woody vegetation; maintain basal area/acre open overstory of pine and oak; and reduce general fuels to negate wildfire impacts.
According to the National Weather Service, winds Saturday and Sunday will be east/southeast and will be calm to around 5 mph.