Conditions pending, the Pine Ridge Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forest plans to conduct a burn of an estimated 300 acres about 7 miles southeast of Chadron April 13th, and if needed, the 14th. The area includes land bordering Bordeaux Road in the Forest Service’s “Collins Allotment”.
Adjacent landowners, visible homeowners, and local fire and law enforcement departments will be contacted prior to ignition. Smoke from the fires may be visible from US Highways 385 and 20 along with Table and Bordeaux Roads in Dawes County.
The primary goal of the burn is to mitigate fuel accumulation that can otherwise make wildfire extremely hazardous and severe. Other objectives include improved wildlife habitat and range health.
District Ranger, Tim Buskirk said, “It will be good to get this project completed. We have been preparing for it for several years and it looks like conditions will finally allow us to complete this important work.”
The USDA Forest Service will be conducting this burn with assistance from local volunteer fire departments, the State of Nebraska, along with federal partners in the region. If anyone has questions, please contact Tim Buskirk at (308) 432-0300 or timothy.buskirk@usda.gov.