Wind River/Bighorn Basin District Office
| Contacts: | Sarah Beckwith | |||
| 307-347-5207 |
BLM Urges Caution During High Fire Danger
Because of high fire danger, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wind River/Bighorn Basin District is urging the public to exercise caution and to be fire safe while recreating this fall.
“We are experiencing unseasonably hot and dry conditions for this time of year,” said BLM Ecologist Rance Neighbors, “and this is expected to continue for the next several days.”
Several small fires are currently burning in Wyoming, some of which were human-caused. Neighbors cautions that wherever you camp this fall, there will be plenty of cured vegetation that can easily burn. “Ensure your campfire is ‘dead’ out before turning in for the night or going hunting,” he said.
In addition, be aware of the potential for a fire to spark when driving or riding off-highway vehicles (OHVs) through tall grass. OHVs must be equipped with SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) approved spark arresters.
Please report all wildfires immediately. For more information about fire conditions, contact Rance Neighbors at 307-347-5100.
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.
Wind River/Bighorn Basin District Office 101 South 23rd Worland, WY 82401