BLM plans broadcast prescribed burn in Campbell County
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BUFFALO, Wyo. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Buffalo Field Office is planning a broadcast burn when conditions are safe on BLM and private lands in north central Campbell County.
If conditions are safe, burning will occur before spring green-up. Depending on snow cover this winter, burning may begin as early as February but more likely will occur in March or April. All prescribed burn projects are conducted in accordance with approved burn plans which specify weather, smoke dispersal, and fuel moisture conditions.
The area for the planned burn is in the Collins Road and Horse Creek Road area, BLM has completed thinning and slash burning in ponderosa pine forests, and conditions permitting, will follow with broadcast burning to reduce surface fuels such as needle litter and downed dead trees and limbs.
“The planned burns are closely coordinated with county fire officials, landowners, permittees, and local agencies in the area to ensure folks are aware of the burn event and to help eliminate confusion from smoke observed during operations,” said Jennifer Walker, Fire Ecologist, BLM High Plains District. “Prescribed fire is a vital tool we use to improve or maintain the health of our public lands, while reducing fuel loading that could contribute to large or high severity wildfires. We thank everyone for their continued support on this multiyear project as we roll into the final phase and conduct burn operations.”
A broadcast burn is a prescribed fire, typically ignited across an area to reduce surface vegetation and fuels. Broadcast burning is used in grasslands, shrublands, forests, and woodlands for habitat restoration and fuels reduction. This project may be beneficial to mule deer, elk, and wild turkey habitat by opening the pine understory and allowing grasses, forbs, and resprouting shrubs to flourish.
BLM Wyoming will use social media and local media sources to help inform the public prior to conducting the burns. BLM Wyoming’s Facebook and Twitter pages can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/BLMWyoming/ and here: https://twitter.com/BLMWyoming
For more information, please contact The Buffalo Field Office front desk at (307) 684-1100, Jacob McClure at (307) 684-1064 or Jennifer Walker at (307) 684-1164.
– 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.