Schenk Prescribed Fire planned for Southern Black Hills
Custer
S.D., Apr. 22, 2024 –
The Hell Canyon Ranger District on the Black Hills National Forest, in
conjunction with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) South Dakota Field Office,
two private landowners, and South Dakota Wildland Fire are planning to conduct
the Schenk prescribed fire project April 23-24, 2024, weather, and conditions
dependent.
The
Schenk project area is located approximately 5 miles southwest of Jewel Cave
National Monument. It contains a total of 2,355 acres broken into four units.
Ownership includes 168 acres of BLM administered lands, 1,457 acres of National
Forest System lands, and 730 acres of private land.
The
objectives of this prescribed fire are to reduce hazardous fuels accumulations
that could make wildfire suppression efforts difficult to control during the
summer months. Also, to remove insect-weakened trees and minimize the risk of
unwanted wildfire across the landscape. Prescribed fire is also used in meadows
to rejuvenate grasses, forbs, and shrubs, to benefit grazing, while
reestablishing meadow boundaries by reducing pine, and juniper
encroachment.
“Prescribed
fires can mimic the benefits of wildfires by reducing fuels on the ground and
lowering the risks associated with larger, uncontrolled fires,” said Todd
Hoover, Hell Canyon Fire Management Officer, Black Hills National Forest. “It
makes sense to work closely with our interagency partners and adjacent
landowners to make the largest impact on the landscape.”
Forest
visitors and hunters are asked to avoid the area during this time. Smoke from
the prescribed burn will be visible throughout the day of the burn and may
linger for several days. Firefighters will be on site throughout the days of
ignition and will periodically patrol the burn for several days afterward. If
you see smoke from this burn, please refrain from calling 911.
Prescribed
fire specialists compare current and predicted environmental conditions to
those outlined in burn plans before deciding whether to burn on a given day.
Burn plans include 21 separate elements including Goals & Objectives,
Prescription (weather and fire behavior), Holding plans, and Contingency
planning. A prescribed fire will not be ignited unless the conditions meet
the criteria described in the burn plan.
For updates before, during, and after prescribed burning
operations, you can follow the BLM on Facebook at Bureau of Land Management –
Montana/Dakotas or on Twitter @BLM_MTDKs. Information on the prescribed burn
will also be located on the Great Plains Fire Information blogspot at https://gpfireinfo.blogspot.com/
For
more information on the Black Hills National Forest, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills.
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