The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Colorado River District, Kingman Field Office will be treating approximately 1800 acres of grasslands on Goodwin Mesa about 50 miles southeast of Kingman in the Upper Burro Creek Wilderness Area. Weather permitting, burning may begin as early as Friday, June 26^th and is expected to be completed within two to three days after ignition.

“There’s a very narrow window of opportunity to complete this prescribed burn,” said Wade Reaves, BLM Kingman Fuels Management Specialist. “Our crews will create a blackline around the perimeter of the area first to create a safe burning environment. We’ll also be using natural barriers to ensure control and protect the surrounding area.”   

Reaves added that the purpose of the burn is to improve the native grassland ecosystem by reducing catclaw, prickly pear, and snakeweed, and to return fire to an area where it plays a natural role in the health of the environment. The burn will also reduce the risk of dangerous wildfires and provide better forage for wildlife and livestock. 

Smoke may be visible at times from Wikieup, Kingman, Interstate 40, and U.S.93.   Impacts from the smoke on Kingman and other areas should be very minimal and the majority of the smoke should disperse quickly. Roads and trails accessing the burn areas will be temporarily closed for public safety and reopened after the burn. 

For more information on this project, contact Wade Reaves, Fuels Management Specialist, at the Bureau of Land Management, Kingman Field Office (928) 718-3700.