Beginning today (Monday, February 10), the Fort Pierre National Grassland, Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest, and the Bessey Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands are expected to begin burning hand and machine slash piles.
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 Nathan Hanson, Nebraska National Forest East Zone Fuels Assistant Fire Management Officer. “The piles are concentrations of leftover materials associated with previous vegetation management activities intended to remove hazardous fuels that can burn during summer wildfires.”
Piles may smolder, burn, and produce smoke for several days after ignition. While smoke may linger in the area, there is a real benefit to burning this type of vegetation.
No closures are anticipated with these operations. However, if smoke drifts on to roads, motorists should slow down, turn on headlights, and proceed with care and watch for fire personnel and vehicles.
For more pile burning information and notifications, follow the Great Plains Fire Information page: http://gpfireinfo.blogspot.com/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NebraskaForestsGrasslands.
For more information on the Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/nebraska.