Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts in the Oak Ridge area, take note: a host of trails in the East and parts of the West BORCE are closing temporarily. According to a notification published on Oak Ridge's official website, these closures support a series of controlled burns coordinated by the Department of Energy (DOE), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the Tennessee Division of Forestry. This work is part of ongoing wildfire protection measures in the region. With these burns set to occur within the next two weeks, residents may notice an uptick in smoke levels.

The list of trail closures includes popular routes such as North Boundary Greenway, Wheat Greenway, and the Boulder trail the park's officials are also closing Clark Center Park west of the boat launch, which includes the winter part of Gallaher Greenway. Accessibility to these areas will be further restricted as roads leading in are also set to be shut down to facilitate the movement and operation of heavy equipment intended for use during these activities.

"Signage for ‘Area Closed’ will be placed at road entrances and at many trailheads," states the official announcement. The preventive actions include not only controlled burns but also storm damage removals, firebreak maintenance, and the felling of problematic or dead trees. These measures are seen as essential for safeguarding the local environment and properties from the eventuality of wildfires, which have the potential to cause significant damage if left unchecked.