BLM Plans Controlled Burns of Slash Piles in Bighorn Mountains
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Buffalo Field Office is preparing to conduct controlled burns of slash piles on public lands in western Johnson County, Wyoming, during the fall and winter seasons, Oil City News reports.
The effort is part of ongoing forest health and fuels reduction initiatives aimed at reducing wildfire risk and improving ecosystems in the Bighorn Mountains area.
The burns will take place across several locations:
- Gardner Mountain: Approximately 83 acres of hand piles will be burned. These piles were created as part of fuels reduction projects designed to restore curl-leaf mahogany stands. The project is a collaboration between the BLM and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
- Sawmill Creek Area: Located off Hazelton and Slip roads, this area includes 550 acres of hand piles left from a forest health project.
- Billy Creek Area: The BLM provides a public slash disposal site in this location for non-commercial use by homeowners. Small materials, such as branches and small trees, can be disposed of at the site. Excavated stumps are not permitted due to the challenges they present during burning. Each winter, the BLM burns the accumulated material at this site and plans to target 297 acres of slash piles resulting from nearby forest health efforts.
The burns may continue through April 2025, depending on conditions. All operations will follow approved burn plans that detail necessary weather, smoke dispersal, and fuel moisture conditions to ensure safety and effectiveness. Weather permitting, the BLM will ignite the piles only when conditions are suitable to minimize risks.
Residents in the area should expect visible smoke during and shortly after burning operations as the slash piles are consumed.
These controlled burns are part of the BLM’s strategy to reduce the accumulation of forest fuels that can lead to severe wildfires. By managing slash piles and promoting healthier forests, the projects also support habitat restoration and community safety.
For homeowners, the Billy Creek slash disposal site offers a valuable service, making it easier to manage debris from private properties while ensuring proper disposal of combustible material.
