Work This Fall on Hoback Fuels Reduction Project

Teton Interagency fire managers in cooperation with the Wyoming Game and Fish, Jackson Hole Fire and EMS, Teton Conversation District, Teton Science School and the Teton Area Wildfire Protection Coalition are planning to implement the Beaver Mountain Prescribed Burn early next week on the Jackson Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The primary objective for the burn is to increase defensible space south of the Hoback Junction area, as identified in the Teton Area Wildfire Protection Plan.
 
The Beaver Mountain prescribed burn is located approximately 20-miles south of Jackson, WY in the Bryan Flats area. Prescribed fire is an important tool in reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire across the landscape and can help prevent extreme fires by reducing hazardous fuel buildup. Managed prescribed fires provide crucial benefits to natural resources.
 
When weather conditions and available fire personnel are favorable for implementation, crews will begin the firing operations for the project. It is anticipated that ignitions may begin Wednesday September, 19, 2018. Every prescribed fire has a specialized plan written for that area that takes into account many factors. In the plan. fire managers consider wind speed and direction, smoke dispersal, relative humidity, fuel moisture for live and dead burnable vegetation, and more. The prescribe fire plan also delineates type and number of resources needed to safely conduct each burn and to support contingency plans. Crews will apply fire to the 700-acre unit using a combination of hand torches and helicopter ignition devices to break up the continuity of vegetative fuels. “The ignition phase for the project is expected to take three to five days depending on the weather and fuels conditions,” said Mary Moore, Jackson District Ranger. Smoke may impact the area as the cool night and morning air often cause the smoke to sink in the canyon area and create an inversion. Motorists are reminded to travel with caution, just as going through any low visibility area.
 
There will be no trail access along the western and southern boundaries of the burn unit during operations. Hazards will exist within the vicinity of the burn area even after firing operations are completed and the public is urged to use caution. Snags and falling trees, rolling rocks and debris, and residual smoke and flames can be expected in the burn area immediately after firing operations. Fire and smoke will be visible until the burn units receives wetting precipitation.
 
Firefighters will stay on site over the evening hours and camp on the forest until the firing operations are complete. Afterwards, the Beaver Mountain unit will be patrolled for any hazards and monitored for areas of concern until the prescribed fire is called out. An information station will be available in the Bryan Flats area for education and information on fire management on public lands and within the Wildland Urban Interface.
 
For more information please call 307-739-5424 or visit the information station during firing operations.
-USDA-
 

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