BLM to conduct controlled burns in eastern Idaho to boost fire resiliency and improve wildlife habitat

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BLM to conduct controlled burns in eastern Idaho to boost fire resiliency and improve wildlife habitat

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IDAHO FALLS, Idaho - The Bureau of Land Management Idaho Falls District, in cooperation with the US Wildland Fire Service, will conduct several prescribed burns totaling about 1500 acres in Central and Eastern Idaho. These prescribed fires seek to mitigate fire risk by reducing hazardous fuel loading while also enhancing wildlife habitat. Fire managers will implement the controlled burns over multiday periods from Sept. 30 through Dec. 30. Actual burn dates and times will be determined by weather and fuel conditions. Smoke may be visible for several days following each burn.

The following burns are scheduled during this time window:

• Challis Field Office - 208-756-5499
  • South Butte Broadcast Burn, 200 acres located in Squaw Creek north of Clayton, ID
  • Bayhorse Pile Burn, 130 acres of piles located around the Bayhorse Townsite in Custer County.
• Pocatello Field Office - 208-478-6340
  • Sheep Creek Broadcast Burn, 290 acres in the Pleasantview Hills
  • Morgan Jones South Broadcast Burn, 170 acres in the Pleasantview Hills
  • Pleasant View Pile Burn, 40 hand & machine piles in the Pleasantview Hills
• Salmon Field Office - 208-756-5400
  • Salmon Admin Pile Burn, approx. 20 piles to burn around various BLM Administrative Sites and Campgrounds.
• Upper Snake Field Office - 208-524-7500
  • South Fork Pile Burn, 72 acres of piles in the Spring Creek drainage near Heise, ID
  • Shotgun Valley Pile Burn, 500 acres of piles located West of Harriman State Park & South of the Clark County A-2 / Yale-Kilgore Road

These prescribed burns are part of the Administration's focus to reduce wildfire risk, improve forest and rangeland health, and protect nearby communities. The BLM is using targeted fuels treatments to reduce the amount of vegetation and other fuels that can feed severe wildfires on public lands.

BLM Idaho carries out up to 25% of all BLM fuels treatment acres nationwide, making these projects an important part of the broader effort to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. The work takes place in phases over multiple years, using carefully planned prescribed burns and other fuels treatments.

Once each burn is complete, crews will mop up, patrol and monitor the area to help ensure public safety.

For the latest fire information, follow @USWFSGreatBasinIdaho on Facebook. For site specific information, please call the corresponding BLM Field Office.

-BLM-

Follow @BLMIdaho on Facebook and Flickr

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America's public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.