Va. Civil War battlefields to undergo controlled burns

Va. Civil War battlefields to undergo controlled burns (Image 1) (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Residents near some Richmond-area battlefields may believe Civil War remembrances are getting a bit too realistic with controlled burns planned at two sites in the coming weeks.

The National Park Service says the burns are conducted every two to three years to maintain the landscape as it appeared when the opposing armies fought here during the summers of 1862 and 1864.

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The burns will occur on 60 acres near Malvern Hill in Henrico County and 20 acres at Cold Harbor in Hanover County.

The Malvern Hill burn is scheduled to begin this week, weather permitting. The Cold Harbor burn will take place in the next few weeks.

Richmond is amid commemorations of the fiery fall of Richmond 150 years ago Thursday.

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