Long Draw Prescribed Fire Planned for West of Hill City, SD - 10/30/2018

Media Contact: Scott Jacobson

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Long Draw Prescribed Fire Planned for West of Hill City, SD

 

Rapid City, SD, October 29, 2018 – Black Hills National Forest Central Zone Fire is planning to burn 570 acres on the Long Draw project beginning Tuesday, October 30, weather permitting. Officials say the prescribed burn may take several days to complete. 

 

This project unit is located approximately 6 miles west of Hill City on the east side of Medicine Mountain Road; south of 6-mile road, and north of Reno Gulch Road.

 

The goal of the Long Draw Prescribed Fire is to establish and maintain a mosaic of vegetation conditions over the project area. This project will lessen the severity and extent of future wildfires in the project area by breaking up the continuity of dead, downed fuels, ultimately reducing fuel loads. Fire will also be utilized as a tool to thin pine regeneration and increase canopy base heights. Additionally, the burn will stimulate browse for big game species.

 

Smoke will be visible from Rapid City, Hill City, Custer, SD, surrounding areas and from Highway 16/385. Smoke will also be visible in the days following ignition and firefighters will remain on scene monitoring the burn for as long as needed.

 

Weather conditions will be monitored closely to assure prescribed fire conditions align with management objectives for the burn.

 

For more information on Black Hills National Forest prescribed fire, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/fire/?cid=FSEPRD575179.

 

Follow Great Plains Fire Information online at: http://gpfireinfo.blogspot.com/ for current fire and prescribed fire updates.

 

Prescribed Burn at Fort Meade Recreation Area, 10/30 and 10/31, 2018

The Bureau of Land Management plans to prescribed burn 148 acres on the Fort Meade Recreation Area near the Old Fort Meade VA Cemetery today and Wednesday.  Crews will continue to monitor the burn through the week.  Burning will only take place if weather conditions are conducive to burning.  Assisting the BLM complete the burn will be resources from the Forest Service and Sturgis VFD.  Burn objectives will help reduce hazardous fuels accumulations, rejuvenate native plant species, and improve forage quality for wildlife and livestock.


Any questions in regards to this burn should be directed to the Bureau of Land Management Field Office at 605.892.7000.

As of 2:05 pm, firefighters are meeting objectives on the prescribed fire at Ft. Meade Recreation Area.
Photos by Travis Lipp.

 

Photo by Travis Lipp

 

Photo by Travis Lipp

Gobbler Prescribed Fire – October 25, 2018 – South of Chadron, NE

Fire managers on the Pine Ridge Ranger District will take advantage of favorable weather conditions to conduct a 180 acre prescribed fire, today, October 25th. 

According to Tim Buskirk, Pine Ridge District Ranger, “The two main objectives for the Gobbler prescribed fire are to reduce hazardous fuels and the pine encroachment in natural meadows.”

Fire is vital to maintain healthy forest and grasslands ecosystems. Prescribed treatments mimic natural fires by reducing forest fuels, recycling nutrients and increasing plant diversity. 

Prescribed fires are managed with firefighter and public safety as the first priority. “We’ve done a lot of work ahead of time to ensure control lines and resources are in place to safely and efficiently conduct this project,” Buskirk said. 

Smoke may be visible from Highway 385 and 20 and from the communities of Chadron, Hay Springs, and Crawford Nebraska.

For more information, please contact the Pine Ridge Ranger District at 308-432-0300 or visit the office at 125 N. Main Street in Chadron, Nebraska.

Silver Mountain Prescribed Fire Planned, 10/24/18, West of Rapid City, SD

Rapid City, SD, October 23, 2018 – The Mystic Ranger District on the Black Hills National Forest is planning to ignite 431 acres, to complete the Silver Mountain project Wednesday, October 24, depending on weather. Smoke will be visible for several miles and could impact Highway 16, Rockerville, Rapid City and other surrounding areas. Crews have been preparing to implement the project to meet management objectives for several years.

The Silver Mountain project area is located approximately 10 miles west/southwest of Rapid City, SD between Highway 16 and Sheridan Lake Road, along Boulder Hill Road to the west.

Temporary road closures will be in effect for Boulder Hill Road, Berretta Road and one lane of Highway 16 that is westbound.

The goal of the Silver Mountain Prescribed Fire is to maintain a mosaic of vegetation conditions created by the Battle Creek Fire of 2002. This project will lessen the severity and extent of future wildfires in the project area by breaking up the continuity of dead, downed fuels, ultimately reducing those fuel loads. Fire will also be utilized as a tool to thin pine regeneration and increase canopy base heights. Additionally, this burn will stimulate browse for big game species.

After many years of fire exclusion, an ecosystem, such as the Black Hills, needs periodic fire to remain healthy. Without it, trees are stressed by overcrowding, fire-dependent species disappear, and flammable fuels build up and become hazardous.

Forest visitors, including hunters, are asked to be aware of their surroundings and watch for prescribed burning operations in the months ahead. Areas where burning operations are taking place will be signed to notify visitors. The public is also encouraged to contact a nearby Forest Service office with questions.

As conditions permit, fire officials will continue to assess ignition of other prescribed burn units across the Black Hills National Forest.

For more information on Black Hills National Forest prescribed fire, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/fire/?cid=FSEPRD575179

-USDA-

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October 18, 2018 Fire Update

----NEW INCIDENT-----

Incident #1 10-18-19 Quarter Fire

• Reported at 1532
• Location: 6 miles north of Vivian, SD in Lyman County
• Estimated Size: 0.10 acre
• Resources Responding: Nebraska National Forest Service
• Cause: human

Fire Update- October 12, 2018

----October 12, 2018-----

Incident #1

• Reported at 0806
• Location: 1 mile N/NE of Blackhawk
• Estimated Size: 1.5 acres (approximately 70 hay bales)
• Resources Responding: State and Local resources
• Cause: spontaneous combustion

Piles to be Burned Today, October 9 on Black Hills National Forest

Silver City, SD – Forest Managers are continuing to reduce hazardous fuels across the Black Hills National Forest.

Starting today, October 9, & continuing through the week as conditions permit, Mystic fire will be burning piles located 1.5 miles northwest of Silver City, SD.

Smoke may be visible from Hwy 385, Silver City Road and Jenny Gulch Road. Smoldering material may continue to burn days after burning operations are completed and firefighters will monitor and check the piles for several days after they have been lit.

Piles are created from timber sale slash and tree thinning operations.

Officials appreciate the support from local communities and said that reducing fuels this time of year makes fire suppression operations safer during the summer months.

Public safety and firefighter safety are the top priority when considering any prescribed burn operation on the landscape. Precipitation, wind, temperature, fuel moisture and staffing all play a part in when and whether ignition occurs.

For pile burning notifications, sign up at http://gpfireinfo.blogspot.com/.

For more information on the Black Hills National Forest, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills.