Prescribed burns planned in BNF

Bighorn National Forest officials are planning several prescribed burns over the next few weeks and months on each district.

The Beaver Creek prescribed burn in the Hunt Mountain Area, is planned to occur in the next few weeks on the Medicine Wheel Ranger District, depending on weather and favorable conditions. This burn is a treatment for livestock allotment management, wildlife habitat improvement, and fuels reduction. For more information, please contact Mark Foster, District Ranger at 307-765-4435.

Two burn units near the Burgess Junction area, one in Schuler Park and the other near the junction of Forest Road 10 (Hunt Mountain) and Hwy 14, known as the Prospect Unit are planned to be burned in the next few weeks, if favorable weather and conditions are present.  These treatments were also identified as needed to meet livestock allotment management planning objectives, wildlife habitat improvement, and fuels reduction. For more information, please contact Tongue River District Ranger Amy Ormseth at 307-674-2600.

Signs will be posted to warn visitors of restricted access during burn operations, and hunting seasons will be avoided to the extent practicable.  Updates will be posted to the Forest’s social media accounts and websites.  Burns are likely to occur over a one to three day period when implemented. 

Smoke will likely be visible from the nearby communities of Buffalo, Sheridan and Greybull, Wyoming during the burns. Smoke impacts are expected to be negligible to these communities or other communities due to typical wind patterns that disperse smoke. Burns may be ignited by hand or with drones (unmanned aerial systems) and held using hand and engine crews or heavy equipment.