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MOAB, Utah—The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Canyon Country Fire Zone will conduct a number of prescribed fires on public lands in San Juan County in coming months, November through March.  These fuel reduction projects are expected to reduce wildfire risk for adjacent communities, restore ecosystem health, and enhance wildlife habitat. 

Prescribed fires are planned for the following locations:

• Ray Mesa II (southeast of Old La Sal) – understory broadcast burning in Ponderosa pine within an area previously treated to remove encroaching pinyon and juniper trees totaling 136 acres;
• Devil Canyon (between Monticello and Blanding at Canyon Terrace, adjacent to Highway 191) – pile burning for approximately 600 acres of brush piles, and;
• San Juan River (near the town of Bluff in the Sand Island Campground area) – pile burning of brush piles located along the river corridor. 

Fire personnel from the Canyon Country Fire Zone will conduct the burns and monitor fire conditions, to ensure implementation occurs under favorable weather and vegetation conditions.  Smoke may be visible from adjacent highways or in local communities.  Smoke from prescribed burns generally lifts and dissipates during the warmest part of the day, but can linger over burn areas and in drainages as temperatures drop during the evening hours. 

Prescribed burns will be posted on www.UtahFireInfo.gov. Local radio stations will be notified the day before burning begins.  

For further information on prescribed burning or fire prevention programs, please contact Chris Asbjorn at (435) 259-2184.  Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours.  The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual.  You will receive a reply during normal business hours.