Ashely National Forest announced Monday that fire management personnel plan to conduct prescribed burns on the Flaming Gorge Ranger District between April and June, dependent on favorable weather and fuel conditions…Objectives for the prescribed burning include maintaining or improving the health of ponderosa pine stands; reducing fuel loading and decreasing the potential for larger wildfires in the future; and maintain or improving sagebrush, browse and forage species to benefit wildlife. Prescribed fires only occur when a specific set of conditions are met. These conditions include air, soil and vegetation moisture levels, temperatures, wind directions and speeds, smoke dispersal, and expected fire behavior. Fire personnel will ignite the fires using a helicopter and/or hand lighting. Engine, hotshots, and/or hand crews will monitor the fire until it is completely extinguished. Smoke may be visible. Prescribed burning is expected to cause minimal impact to areas or activities outside of the burn units themselves. For more details, visit the Ashley National Forest Facebook page.
