Arkansas Forestry Commission to conduct controlled burn

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The Arkansas Forestry Commission, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service and the Nature Conservancy will conduct a controlled burn on about 400 acres in Pinnacle Mountain State Park.

Forestry Commission officials said the visitor center, the Ouachita National Recreation Trail and other parts of the park will be closed to visitors temporarily during Tuesday's burn.

Commission officials say the burn will be used to help remove dead wood on the forest floor that could provide fuel for a wildfire outbreak in the warm months and during droughts. The burn also will help restore the ecosystem, maintain the forest's health and improve its appearance.

Officials are encouraging motorists who visit the park in the coming days to be cautious because smoke from the controlled burn could linger and reduce visibility.