Bridger-Teton plans prescribed burn near Big Piney
by Bridger-Teton National Forest
September 17, 2008
(Big Piney) – The Bridger-Teton National Forest plans to conduct a prescribed burn on the Big Piney Ranger District in the Maki Creek area starting next week. Crews will begin igniting the first of eight units, 290 acres, early next week. Depending on weather conditions more units could be burned over the next two or three weeks. The total project area for this prescribed burn is 2,045 acres. Maki Creek is located between North Cottonwood Creek and South Horse Creek on the Big Piney Ranger District.
The purpose of the burn is to reduce fuel build up and restore aspen stands to the ecosystem. Some mechanical treatments were conducted last summer where conifers were cut out using chainsaws. Additional benefits of the prescribed burn will be to improve forage and help disperse elk off of nearby feedgrounds.
This fire is a cooperative project supported by additional funding from the Wyoming Game and Fish trust fund and the Wyoming Wildlife Natural Resource trust fund. Helicopters will be utilized to light the burn using aerial ignitions techniques as well as ground crews with drip torches. Actual ignition will be dependent on meeting strict parameters for weather and fire behavior conditions. Smokey conditions may exist in the immediate area and smoke may be visible from the towns of Pinedale, Daniel, and Big Piney. There are no road or trail closures associated with this project.
Other fires currently burning in the area include the New Fork Fire at 15,086 acres, and the Roaring Fork Fire which is being managed for resource benefit and is currently under 1/10th of an acre in size and smoldering near the Upper Green River Lakes.
For more information on the fires please contact the Big Piney Ranger District at 307-276-3375.
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