Bridger-Teton continues prescribed burn in Wyoming Range
Project will restore aspen stands and improve forage for elk
October 6, 2008
(Big Piney) – The Bridger-Teton National Forest is continuing a prescribed burn on the Big Piney Ranger District in the Maki Creek area of the Wyoming Range.
Crews are able to burn depending on favorable weather conditions. On Monday, October 6th, they burned about 500 acres, bringing the total of the project so far to 900 acres.
The burn consists of eight units. 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, northwest of Big Piney and southwest of Daniel.
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.
For more information on the burn, please contact the Big Piney Ranger District at 307-276-3375.
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