ROLLA, Mo. (AP) - About 4,500 acres of Mark Twain National Forest in southeast Missouri will be going up in smoke Saturday in a prescribed fire.
The Forest Service says the acreage is located near the Ripley County town of Handy, about 14 miles northwest of Doniphan. The fire is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. and end around 6 p.m.
The agency says the public can expect to see a large column of smoke that could be visible for miles. Flames might be seen through Saturday night, and the smoke could linger through Sunday.
Forest Service officials conduct prescribed fires to improve wildlife habitat and reduce the accumulations of hazardous fuel in the woods. They're carried out by trained personnel under specific weather conditions.
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Online:
Mark Twain National Forest: http://www.fs.usda.gov/mtnf