Pile burning planned in the Bighorn National Forest

With the return of winter conditions to the forest and the expectation that snow will remain for the season, pile burning will begin soon in the Bighorn National Forest.

While the Elk Fire is not at full containment, actions needed on that fire are winding to a close. Local crews will now begin completing planned fuels reduction projects by burning piles made during forest thinning projects, mostly done near structures to increase defensible space. November and December are good months to burn piles before the snow is too deep at higher elevations, hampering access and safety for crews.

On the Tongue River District, there are several small areas near Burgess Junction where thinning was done near structures to better protect them in the event of wildfire. Many of the areas threatened by the Elk Fire were proactively treated during previous thinning and pile burning activities, aiding firefighter efforts during that incident. Similarly, piles from thinning work around structures in the Big Goose area within the Sheridan Municipal Watershed need to be burned. Smoke from these pile burns may be visible in the Sheridan area.

On the Medicine Wheel District, pile burning will occur near the Antelope Butte ski area and on Crater Ridge, and other scattered small areas in the district may also be treated. Smoke may be visible from Greybull or Lovell from the pile burning.

For updates and information, call the office in Sheridan at 307-674-2600 or the office in Buffalo at 307-684-7806, or visit the Bighorn National Forest’s website, https://www.fs.usda.gov/bighorn.