| Contacts: | Mark Rogers 970-826-5036 | |||
| Vanessa Delgado 303-239-3681 |
Kissinger Fire Managed For Resource Benefits
Meeker, Colo. - Fire managers in northwest Colorado and the Bureau of Land Management White River Field Office plan to manage the Kissinger fire west of Meeker to improve resources in the Black Mountain Wilderness Study Area.
The Kissinger fire is estimated at 15 acres and started as the result of lightning on Aug. 15; however, it was not reported until Aug. 17. The fire is located approximately 10 miles west of Meeker and about 2.5 miles north of Colorado Highway 64.
The fire will be monitored by ground and aircraft personnel, and be allowed to burn within the WSA as long as it does not pose a threat to private property or other resources in the area. Currently, the fire is about two miles from private property.
“By allowing the fire to burn, we reduce the amount of dead fuels on the ground and reduce the likelihood of larger fires in the future,” Mark Rogers, fire management officer for the Northwest Colorado Fire Management Unit, said. “Now, grass and brush species in the area can re-grow next spring and provide improved habitat for wildlife and livestock.”
Smoke from the Kissinger fire will be visible along Highway 64, especially for east-bound travelers at the Rio Blanco Reservoir. Smoke may also be visible from Meeker during the late afternoon and early evening when fires are usually most active.
A number of fires in the last five years were managed for resource benefits in the Black Mountain WSA and the adjoining Windy Gulch WSA. Fire and resource managers, as well as permittees and hunters in these areas recognize the long-term benefits of these fires.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
220 East Market St. Meeker, CO 81641