The following is a release from the U.S. Forest Service –

Kemmerer Wyo., October 7, 2021— The Kemmerer Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest is planning to ignite the Basin Creek and Little Hornet prescribed fires in the Hams Fork and La Barge Vegetation Project areas. These could begin implementation as early as Sunday, October 10, 2021. Smoke impacts should remain minimal due to the short duration of the burns and remote location.

• Basin Creek Rx is a 27-acre unit located off forest road 10062, near Basin Creek, approximately 3-miles east of Kelly Guard Station.
• Little Hornet is up to 942-acres broken up into smaller sections along the La Barge Creek drainage. Each smaller unit will be managed individually.

The Hams Fork Vegetation Project area is a multi-unit area covering approximately 74,267-acres. The goal is to develop a diverse mix of vegetation, reduce fuel loading to help minimize the intensity of future wildland fires, and stimulate the regeneration of aspen stands by reducing conifer encroachment. This will be accomplished through a variety of methods to include, timber sales, prescribed fire, pile burning, and mechanical treatments. This project is an interagency cooperative effort with Wyoming Game & Fish, Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative and the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

The La Barge Vegetation Restoration Project is 52,273 acres targeted to promote biological diversity in tree and plant species. Currently it is dominated by homogeneous older conifer and sagebrush. By increasing the diversity of species this will provide abundant forage and habitat for wildlife as well as minimizing the risk of future severe wildfires. 2,217 acres have been identified for future prescribed fire operations to be conducted over multiple years and broken into smaller units.

Prescribed fires are managed under a precise set of parameters know as a “prescriptions” which include overall project objectives, temperature, wind speed and direction, relative humidity, current and expected forecast, and fuel conditions, as well as available firefighting resources, and time of season. Before burning, fire managers ensure that all the parameters are within their prescribed fire plan so the operations can be conducted safely, and objectives can be met.

Fire management personnel will utilize both ground and aviation resources to safely conduct these prescribed fire operations. Smoke impacts from these operations will be minimal due to the smaller size of the units, remote location, and short duration of each burn. Fire managers will be coordinating with Wyoming air quality and will monitor weather conditions closely in the days prior to, and during the prescribe fire ignitions. Firefighters will continue to work in the area several days after ignitions to patrol and manage for public safety.

Local notifications will take place as well as social media postings alerting the public when these burns will be implemented. For more information contact the Kemmerer Ranger District at 307 828 5100, visit Tetonfire.com or follow the Bridger-Teton National Forest Facebook page.