Snow on the ground and favorable weather conditions have provided a window for trained fire personnel from the West Desert District BLM burn piles of tree slash piles southeast of Ibapah this week. The piles are the by-product of a thinning project performed near the community of Ibapah; the primary goal of this is to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire by breaking up the continuity of the juniper woodland. Up to twenty acres of piles may be burned.

 

Fire managers have performed similar treatments throughout the last decade. Observations from prior treatments have exhibited secondary success by improving wildlife habitat through an increase in herbaceous vegetation, formerly crowded out by the dense juniper.

 

This thinning project is known as the Ibapah Stewardship project and is made up of two units; one at 45 acres and the other at 55 acres. The work reduces juniper density and provides wood products for the community of Ibapah.