“This is scheduled to be a two day burn, however we may burn into Friday March 13th if conditions warrant,” said Josh Morgan, Fuels Assistant Fire Manager Officer, Hell Canyon Ranger District.
The Anti-Horse Project area is located approximately 20 miles west of Custer, SD and 18 miles east of Newcastle, WY in the Surveyor Hill Road/Jasper Fire area, across from the Tepee Work Center.
One of the units to be burned is located along Hwy 16. Fire officials said the highway will remain open but ask drivers to use caution and turn on headlights. With reduced visibility from smoke possible, please do not stop to take photos along the highway as this can create a hazard for fire vehicles in the area.
The resource objective of the burn is to reduce long term fire hazards and improve health and vigor of forested stands in portions of the Jasper fire area. The 2000 Jasper fire created extensive areas of dead and dying stands. The dead trees have fallen to the ground, creating high concentrations of fuel on the ground that create a hazard to firefighters, the public, and forest resources.
Crews have been preparing to implement this project to meet management objectives for several years and managers will not ignite the project unless the conditions meet the criteria described in the burn plan.
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For more information on the Black Hills National Forest, visit, http://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills or call (605) 673-9200.
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| (Photo taken Oct. 2016 on the Anti-Horse Project; Black Hills National Forest) |