BLM To Conduct Controlled Burns as Winter Weather Arrives
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CASPER, Wyo. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Casper, Buffalo and Newcastle Field Offices are planning to burn slash piles on public lands as winter weather makes preventative burns safe to conduct across the region.
Burning may begin as early as next week and continue through April 2021, with all prescribed burn projects conducted in accordance with approved burn plans which specify weather, smoke dispersal, and fuel moisture conditions.
“Each year we wait for the winter months to conduct these burns in a way that is controlled and safe,” said Casey Cheesbrough, Fire Management Specialist, High Plains District. “When we conduct these planned burns, there is the possibility of smoke being seen by residents of local communities. We are in contact with community responders to inform them of our plans prior to conducting the burns. Concerned citizens can contact their local emergency responders or the BLM Fire Dispatch Center at 800-295-9953.”
Next week, weather conditions contingent, Casper Field Office crews are planning to burn slash piles generated by fire crews by cutting and piling trees including Limber pine and ponderosa pine that were encroaching into mountain shrub and meadow ecosystems near Pitchpine Creek on Muddy Mtn. More projects are planned in the area as crews continue restoring ecosystem function and reducing hazardous fuels.
Newcastle Field Office personnel plan to conduct winter season burns in the following areas:
- Sherwood Canyon / Stateline area approximately 200 acres
- Newcastle Fire Defense Zone -Just north of Newcastle- approx. 50 acres
- Teckla Powerline Right of Way- approx. 2 acres
- Skull Creek- approx. 40 acres
- Moore Canyon - approx. 5 acres
Buffalo Field Office planned burns were detailed in a previous release, which can be found here: https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-conduct-slash-pile-burning-bighorn-mountains-and-campbell-county
Pile burning operations can last several days and will only take place when weather and fuels conditions align with requirements in the prescribed fire burn plan and from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to ensure impacts to air quality and chance of escape are minimal .
Throughout the burn process, personnel will continue to monitor the burned piles as they smolder and burn down to ensure fire does not escape the project area.
-BLM-
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.