BLM to conduct prescribed fire in southwest Idaho
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BOISE, Idaho – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will soon conduct a large prescribed fire in the vicinity of Juniper Mountain, located 37 miles south of Silver City. The Trout Springs Prescribed Fire is expected to take place over five to seven days between Sept. 9-30, 2019, depending on weather conditions and regional wildfire activity.
This prescribed fire project area is approximately 21 square miles, and will be ignited by both hand crews and helicopters. The BLM advises the public to avoid recreating or leaving equipment such as camping gear and trail cameras in this area during the project’s timeframe.
During ignition, there may be travel delays along Juniper Mountain Road. The BLM will make every effort to accommodate passage, but some delays may last several hours until the roadway is deemed safe.
Smoke from the fire will be visible from long distances and could settle into surrounding canyons and valleys at night.
“There will be a lot of firefighters working on the burn, with many right alongside roadways, and visibility may be limited due to smoke, so we’re asking the public to please be cautious when driving through the prescribed fire area,” said BLM Owyhee Field Manager Donn Christiansen.
This prescribed fire aims to remove encroaching stands of Western juniper to improve conditions on rangeland that provides habitat for wildlife and forage for livestock grazing. In recent decades, juniper has begun to spread and compete with sage-steppe vegetation for water, nutrients, space, and sunlight, while also altering the natural wildfire cycle.
The BLM encourages anyone with questions, including specifics on timing and location of the burn, to contact the Boise District Fire Information Line at 208-384-3378.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.