Bridger-Teton National Forest plans prescribed burn near Kemmerer in March
by Bridger-Teton National Forest
March 8, 2011
The Kemmerer Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest plans to continue with the implementation of the prescribed burn in the Pole Creek area this winter and spring. The project will treat approximately 2,000 acres. The Forest Service Fire Managers hope to begin ignitions in early March.
Last fall, the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management treated over 6,000 acres in the lower Pole Creek drainage. This year will see the treatment of 2,000 acres on Forest Service lands in the Upper Pole Creek drainage as the Bridger-Teton continues to treat the increasing bug killed conifers and aspen stands.
The objectives of the burn are to rejuvenate decadent aspen stands by targeting dead and dying beetle killed conifers, promote better grasses and forbs improving habitat for big game, reduce hazardous fuel accumulations and restore fire to the landscape representing a more historical and natural role in the environment.
The objectives of the winter phase of this project are to apply fire to the bug killed trees along the control lines. This will help to reinforce the control lines along the northern and eastern boundaries in preparation for the spring broadcast burn.
Spring operations will be no more that 100-200 acres in size with the remaining acres being broadcast burn in the late spring, after snow melt.
This project is expected to be carried out anytime between March 1 and June 31. Actual ignition dates will be dependent on meeting strict parameters for weather and fire behavior conditions. Flames may be visible during the active burning operation and smoke may be evident in the vicinity, especially in mountain valleys during the early morning hours of the burn period. This project has the potential to impact spring bear hunting season.
The Hams Fork Road will remain open. Visitors are reminded to always use caution when recreating in burned areas, smoke, falling snags and active fire may be present after a closure has been lifted. Interagency fire managers will attempt to minimize any adverse impacts to recreationists and residents as the burns proceed.
This vegetation treatment is an interagency cooperative effort with Wyoming Game & Fish Department, Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative, United States Forest Service and Wyoming Wildlife Natural Resource Trust Fund.
For more information about this project, contact the Bridger-Teton’s Fire Management Officer Kirk Strom at 307-828-5116.
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