Slash pile burning scheduled in Iron and Beaver Counties to reduce wildfire risk
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CEDAR City, Utah—The Bureau of Land Management Color Country District is set to burn slash piles from previous hand thinning projects, weather and staffing permitting. The prescribed burns will take place at three sites: near the Cedar Highlands Subdivision, southeast of Cedar City, near Quichapa Lake, west of Cedar City, south of Highway 56; and by the Beaver River, south of Minersville Reservoir on BLM-managed lands.
"For 22 years we have focused on minimizing wildfire on public lands," said Color Country District Fuels Program Manager Shawn Peterson. "Reducing hazardous vegetation on public lands helps protect vulnerable communities and delicate ecosystems."
This proactive work will reduce hazardous accumulations of flammable vegetation near residential homes and private property in a high-risk wildfire area, enhancing the effectiveness of firefighting efforts during the summer.
Personnel will burn multiple slash piles 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, Interstate 15, Highway 56, and Highway 130 during the planned fire and possibly for several day 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.
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.