| Contacts: | Paul McGuire | , 405-790-1009 |
Prescribed Burn Planned on Public Land Northwest of Amarillo
Amarillo, Texas – The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Amarillo Field Office, will be conducting prescribed burns on approximately 4,400 acres of the Cross Bar Cooperative Management Area (CMA) from January 12 through early April 2010, depending upon favorable weather conditions. The Cross Bar CMA is comprised of 12,000 acres of BLM land 15 miles northwest of the city.
The purpose of the prescribed burn is to support ongoing efforts to restore prairie grasslands on the CMA to their natural cycle of growth by reducing mature, overgrown vegetation. The reintroduction of fire into the ecosystem promotes historical grasslands and habitat for wildlife. Prescribed fire also reduces the dangers to communities and ranches posed by catastrophic wildfires.
A fire management plan has been developed that will guide the strategic placement of fire crews and engines based on weather and expected fire behavior. The Amarillo Field Office began its prescribed fire program on the CMA in 2002 and has successfully burned approximately 15,000 acres to date.
For more information please contact BLM Fire Management Officer, Todd Richards at 505-761-8769.
The BLM manages more land - over 245 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. 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.