Fort Hill Controlled Burn Set For Today: Cape Cod National Seashore

EASTHAM, MA — A prescribed burn is set for Wednesday at Fort Hill in Eastham, part of the Cape Cod National Seashore.

Seashore officials said it will burn approximately 14 acres on the hillside adjacent to the upper parking lot at Fort Hill, and should take only one day to complete.

It will be conducted by "trained and experienced fire managers under a pre-determined set of conditions that include temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, fuel moisture and resource availability."

Smoke from the burn may be visible in and around the Fort Hill area.

All park facilities will remain open during the prescribed burn but access to Fort Hill will be restricted.

Fort Hill was closed to visitors beginning at midnight on Tuesday, through Wednesday evening. The Red Maple Swamp trail will remain open, but trail closures will be in place along the Fort Hill trail intersections.

Because of the fuel type that will be burned, which include mainly grasses, heavy and prolonged smoke is not expected from this operation, officials said.

Firefighters will be on scene for the duration of the operation and will be patrolling the burned area after operations conclude.