Monday, March 9, 2020

Buttes Broadcast Burn Planned Wed. March 11, 2020 on Fish Mountain near Sundance, WY

Sundance, WY, March 9, 2020 – The Buttes broadcast burn is planned for ignition on the Black Hills National Forest Wednesday, March 11, 2020, weather permitting.

North Zone fire crews plan to burn about 100 acres.

The broadcast burn is located in the Black Buttes area on Fish Mountain, approximately 5 miles south of Sundance, WY.

Fire will be confined primarily to the south-facing slope of Fish Mountain and bordered by snow and frozen fuels limiting fire behavior on the north-facing slope. Conditions for this burn are favorable with snowfall forecasted in the area over the next several days.

The primary objective of the prescribed burn is to reduce the potential of severe wildfire that could spread to adjacent lands. Resource objectives of the burn include providing for diverse ecosystems and improvement of big game and songbird/raptor habitat. Prescribed fire will also be used to prepare sites for natural regeneration, increase browse productivity, and rejuvenate foliage.

On the day of a burn, fire managers call the National Weather Service with on-site weather conditions and request a spot weather forecast. This forecast allows fire managers to determine whether they will burn or not based on-site specific weather forecasts. This forecast includes temperatures, relative humidity, winds and smoke dispersal.

Good smoke dispersal is forecasted for Wed. however, smoke may still be visible for several days from I-90, Highway 585 and Canyon Springs Road. Crews will continue to monitor the burn after ignition is complete.

To receive significant fire activity notifications via text, text ‘GPFire’ to 85511. Text ‘STOP’ to cancel at any time and/or subscribe to receive e-mail notifications at http://gpfireinfo.blogspot.com/.

For more information on the Black Hills National Forest, visit, http://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills or call (605) 673-9200.

-USDA- 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.