Fall prescribed burns planned on Bighorn National Forest

The Bighorn National Forest Supervisor Andrew Johnson has announced three prescribed burns planned this fall, depending on favorable weather conditions over the next few months.  

According to the BNF, these burns are being conducted to reduce fuel loads that will minimize the risk of large catastrophic fires, improve wildlife habitat, and increase range forage. The burns target over-mature sagebrush and conifer encroachment into shrublands and meadows, and fuels reduction in the Buffalo Municipal watershed. 

Partial funding will be provided by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and other partners. A map is available on the Forest’s web page, here and visitors are encouraged to contact individual ranger districts for further information. 

Medicine Wheel Ranger District: A burn is planned for the Beaver Creek area near Sunlight Mesa on Hunt Mountain, for approximately 750 acres.

Powder River Ranger District: Burns are planned for the Tensleep Canyon and Clear Creek areas, totaling approximately 2,000 acres.

Tongue Ranger District: Burns may occur in the Prospect Creek area near Granite Pass, and Schuler Park near Burgess Junction.  Combined, approximately 500 acres of burning may occur.

Even with the Crater Ridge fire still burning, this is the time of year fire and habitat managers are able to accomplish prescribed burns. Fire danger is down to moderate to high over most of the forest and cooler temperatures and shorter days reduce fire likelihood. Burns are only conducted in places and at times of the year where fire personnel can safely monitor and control the progress.

According to the BNF, smoke may be visible from communities surrounding the BNF but is not likely to impact any of the communities. Burns will be conducted to minimize the impact to hunters and other recreationists by signing the areas intended for burning, by limiting the impact of safety closures to the days of the burns, and by announcing specific burn days on social media and the Forest’s web page, and other outreach sources.

Should the public have questions, please contact the Forest Supervisor’s Office at (307) 674-2600.