Smoke from an Ozark-St. Francis National Forest prescribed burn should be visible in Stone County for the next day or two.
The Sylamore Ranger District will conduct the prescribed burn on 1,116 acres near Mountain View. The burn is expected to be completed by the end of the week, according to the USDA Forest Service.
Smoke from the burn may be visible from Highway 5 and the communities of Mount Olive, Calico Rock, and Optimus.
Temporary closure of Optimus River Road might be necessary during the burn, and the service is cautioning travelers throughout the area to be prepared for driving near smoke-impacted roads.
The burns are being conducted by the service to manage forests for a variety of purposes, including improving wildlife habitat, reducing wildfire risk, and promoting forest regeneration. The service says fire managers pay special attention to smoke management and the safety of the public and firefighters during all operations.
For more information on prescribed burns in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest, please visit the USDA Forest Service website by clicking here or contact the Sylamore Ranger District at (870) 269-3228.
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