GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK (828newsNOW) — The National Park Service plans to conduct a prescribed burn in the western portion of Cades Cove on Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 7-8, weather permitting.

The burn will be carried out by National Park Service wildland firefighters, with assistance from The Nature Conservancy and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and support from Friends of the Smokies. Park officials said crews will remain on site to monitor fire activity throughout the operation.

Visitors to the area may see smoke and flames during the burn. While no closures are planned, officials said temporary road or trail closures could be implemented as a safety precaution. If weather or site conditions are not favorable, the burn will be rescheduled.

The planned burn will cover about 900 acres and is intended to restore native meadow habitats, reduce hazardous fuel loads, limit the spread of woody vegetation and maintain the historic open landscape of Cades Cove, park officials said.

Prescribed fires are used to create a patchwork of burned and unburned areas, which promotes biodiversity and provides habitat for wildlife such as deer, wild turkey, pollinators and ground-nesting birds. Without periodic fire, officials said the Cove would gradually revert to forest, altering its historic character.

Park officials urged visitors to use caution during the burn, including slowing down near work zones, avoiding stopping along roadways and using headlights if smoke is present.