BLM to conduct prescribed fire south of Bowie
Piles of brush, cut to reduce wildfire risk and improve ecosystem health, will be burned.
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Safford, Ariz. – The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Safford Field Office and Gila District Fire Management Office will conduct a single day prescribed fire near the Nine Mile Ranch headquarters on BLM-managed public land located seven miles south of Bowie. The Nine Mile prescribed fire will cover approximately 10 acres of piled slash and debris, cut as part of fuel-break maintenance to reduce wildfire risk. The plan is to burn this area in early March, although the exact day of burning will be dependent on having appropriate weather and fuel conditions.
Thinning and burning reduces fuel loading and creates breaks in vegetation, thereby reducing wildfire intensity and spread. This helps protect nearby structures, recreation areas, or sensitive ecosystems when a wildfire occurs in the area.
Fire personnel monitor the burned area during and after all prescribed fires. Prescribed fire information will be available the day of the fire at the Safford Field Office. For more information, contact Public Affairs Specialist June Lowery, 520-258-7223.
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.