The Pine Ridge Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forest is conducting a 300-acre prescribed burn today about 7 miles southeast of Chadron April 13th, if the weather cooperates.
District Ranger Tim Buskirk says prescribed burns are held only if criteria such as wind, humidity, and moisture content of fuels fall within preset levels at the planned ignition time. If they don’t, the burn will be postponed.
That’s already been the case for this burn, which includes land bordering Bordeaux Road in the U-S Forest Service “Collins Allotment.” Buskirk says the Forest Service has been preparing for it for several years and finally seems to have the right conditions.
While the Forest Service is in charge of the burn, its crews will be joined by those from local volunteer fire departments as well as state and other federal agencies. Crews will remain on scene at least through tomorrow.
Adjacent and nearby landowners and homeowners and local fire and law enforcement departments have been informed of the project and will be contacted prior to ignition.
Buskirk says the primary goal of the burn is to reduce the amount of fuel such as dead trees, downed limbs, and brush that has accumulated over the years and could make any wildfire extremely hazardous and severe.
The controlled fire has additional objectives, including improved wildlife habitat and range health.
Smoke may be visible from Hwys 385 and 20, Table Road, and Bordeaux Road today and tomorrow.