Slash pile burning planned for Cedar Highlands Subdivision to reduce community wildfire risk
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CEDAR CITY, Utah — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Color Country District plans to burn slash piles from a previous hand thinning project when favorable weather and personnel conditions exist. The project site is located immediately below the Cedar Highlands Subdivision, southeast of Cedar City on BLM administered public lands.
“Community wildfire protection is of highest priority to the agency and our commitment to reduce hazardous fuels (vegetation) on public lands near Cedar Highlands goes back 21 years,” said Color Country District Fuels Program Manager Shawn Peterson.
This proactive work will reduce hazardous accumulations of flammable vegetation below residential homes and private property in a high-risk wildfire area, while creating an opportunity for firefighters to be successful in the event of a wildfire during the summer months.
Personnel will burn multiple slash piles within a 200-acre area, under conditions that minimize the potential of fire spread and minimal impacts to air quality. Smoke will likely be visible from multiple areas of Cedar City and Interstate 15 during the planned fire and for a few days after.
“We are also working to expand the footprint of our mechanical treatments in future years to further reduce wildfire risk to private property, infrastructure and to recent recreation improvements on public lands,” Peterson added.
To restore Utah’s landscapes in a meaningful way, all vegetation management projects are planned and coordinated through the many land management agencies, partners, wildlife groups and private stakeholders of Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative.
Pile burning updates will be provided on Twitter @UtahWildfire on active burn days. Please reference #CedarHighlandsRx for updated information.
For more information on preventing unwanted human-caused wildfires and for updates on fire related information throughout the state of Utah, visit www.UtahFireInfo.gov. Visit www.UtahFireSense.org for more ways to enhance your “Fire Sense” and help prevent human-caused wildfires.
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.