Mesa Verde National Park plans to conduct a prescribed burn, as weather permits, next week on 10 acres that includes one of the last stands of ponderosa pine in the park.

The goal is to reduce wildland fire hazard and promote regeneration on acreage populated mainly by ponderosa pine, scrub oak and piñon juniper.

The majority of the other ponderosa stands have largely died from prolonged drought and intense fire in the last 15 years.

The acreage to be burned is at the south end of Wetherill Mesa.

Burning should take about two days, but smoke may be visible for several days.

More information is available from Steve Underwood, park fire-management officer, at (970) 529-5049.