Black Hills National Forest

US Forest Service
Black Hills National Forest
1019 N. 5th Street
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-9200

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
605-673-9227

News Release

USDA Forest Service

Black Hills National Forest

Contact: Contact: Brian Rafferty (Limestone and Picnic/Cavern/Kine) at (605) 642-4622, Dennis Mauch (Sundance Fuels Burn) at (307) 283-1361 and Scott Wheeler (Sleez) at (307) 283-1361, or email us at r2 blackhills webinfo@fs.fed.us

BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST ANNOUNCES FALL PRESCRIBED FIRE PROJECTS IN NORTHERN HILLS

SPEARFISH, SD: SEPTEMBER 12, 2008

Starting as early as next week, firefighters in the northern part of the Black Hills will begin burning portions of the forest to improve public and firefighter safety and improve forest health.

Four projects are planned including Limestone, Picnic/Cavern/Kine, Sleez and Sundance Hazardous Fuels.

Target date for the Limestone prescribed burn is September 15 – November 15. Fire will be ignited ten miles west of Lead with a project size of 1208 acres. The objective of the project is to provide fire managers safe and effective areas in which to manage wildland fires.

The Picnic/Cavern/Kine prescribed burn will be ignited approximately three miles northeast of Steamboat Rock Picnic Ground with a target date for the burn of September 15 – December 15. Project size is 1300 acres and the objective of this burn is to reduce fuels near wildland urban interface to improve public and firefighter safety and improve wildlife habitat.

The Sleez prescribed burn will be ignited approximately seven to nine miles northwest of Sundance, Wyoming with a target date for the burn of September 15 – November 15. Project size is 1330 acres and the objective of this burn is also fuels reduction for public safety near wildland urban interface and improve wildlife habitat.

Target date for the Sundance Hazardous Fuels burn is October 15 – November 15. The project vicinity is located in Crook County, three to eight miles northwest of Sundance, WY. The Sundance Hazardous Fuels Reduction Plan has multiple units identified for prescribed fire. Project size is estimated at 1359 acres and the primary objective of this burn is fuels reduction for public and firefighter safety and improved forest health.
Weather conditions will be monitored and burns will be implemented when conditions are suitable for safe and effective prescribed burns. Prescribed fires are one of many tools public land managers use to reduce the risk of unwanted wildfires while improving wildlife habitat and overall ecosystem health.
For more information, visit our website www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills.