Forest
Service News Release
Media Contact:
Scott Jacobson, Public Affairs Officer
(605) 440-1409
scott.j.jacobson@usda.gov
www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills
Pile
Burning to begin soon on the Black
Hills National Forest
Custer,
S.D., December 9, 2024 —
With the recent snowfall across the Black Hills National Forest, Ranger
Districts will begin burning thousands of hand and machine slash piles. Piles
are created from timber sale
slash and tree thinning operations.
Piles
are only ignited when managers are confident that the project can be undertaken
safely with considerations to snow cover, wind, temperature, available
staffing, and smoke dispersal. Public and firefighter safety
is always the number-one priority in all burning operations. Firefighters
continually monitor and check the piles for several days after they have been
lit.
“It
is very important to reduce fire and insect hazards by reducing fuel buildup,”
said Jason Virtue, Black Hills National Forest Fire Management Officer. “We
appreciate the support from the communities. Being able
to reduce these fuels this time of year makes fire suppression operations safer
during the summer months.”
Smoke
will be visible and may impact local communities across the Black Hills for the
next several months. Smoldering material may continue to burn days after
burning operations are completed.
For
more pile burning information and notifications, follow the Black Hills
National Forest on the Great Plains Fire Information page: http://gpfireinfo.blogspot.com/,
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/blackhillsnf and/or Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlackHillsNF
For
more information on the Black Hills National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills.
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