The following is a news release from officials of the Bridger-Teton National Forest – 

Afton Wyo., September 24, 2024–The Greys River Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest plans to implement up to 1,852-acres burn in the Star Valley Front Vegetation Project. The unit to be burned in the Star Valley Front Vegetation Project is located on the Greys River Ranger District between Afton and Grover, Wyoming.

The Star Valley Front Vegetation project is a total of 31,477-acres that extends from Strawberry Creek south to Cottonwood Creek, from the forest boundary to the top of the Salt River Range. The main purpose for treating vegetation in the Star Valley Front Project Area is to begin restoring a balance of age classes in mountain shrub land, mountain big sagebrush, aspen, and conifer communities. The mix of succession stages is currently heavily skewed toward older age classes. Another important purpose is to improve the vigor of vegetation on mule deer and elk winter and transition range, which is particularly relevant given the great interest in deer and elk populations in the Star Valley area.

Star Valley Front Unit two is comprised of two different burn units, Unit 2A (1752 acres) and Unit 2B (3483 acres), will have different implementation schedules. Star Valley Front, Unit 2A is comprised of the southeast facing slopes visible from Swift Creek. Unit 2A consists of timber, grass, and mountain brush.

The objectives of the burn are to:

a) Contribute to a balanced mix of successional stages of major vegetation types.

b) Reduce the abundance and canopy cover of conifer trees in mountain shrub land, big sagebrush, and aspen types.

c) Rejuvenate shrubs and aspen trees, especially on mule deer and elk winter range.

d) Restore fire to its natural role on the landscape.

e) Reduce fuel loading on the landscape in order to reduce the extent and severity of future wildfire, both for firefighter safety and for resource protection.

This project is expected to be carried out anytime in the fall between late September 2024 and late November, 2024 when snow has melted from the open, sun exposed, slopes but may still exists in the adjacent fuels surrounding the unit. Actual ignition dates will be dependent on meeting strict parameters for weather and fire behavior conditions.

The communities of Afton and Grover as well as Forest visitors camping and recreating in the area, may experience short term smokey conditions in the vicinity of the burn unit during ignition operations. Because the burn will consume primarily fine fuels, smoke duration will be short lived as the fuels will consume quickly. Residents can expect smokey conditions the day of the burn and into the overnight hours. Some smoke may exist the following day but should dissipate considerably thereafter. Roads and trails should remain open to the public, however certain areas may be closed for a short period of time if deemed that public and firefighter safety may be impacted during portions of the burn.

This vegetation treatment is an interagency cooperative effort with Wyoming Game & Fish Department and the United States Forest Service. In agreement with the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Account of Wyoming (WWNRT), and the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF), funding support for this and future projects exists.

For other news, events and information you can call 307-739-5500 or visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/btnf or follow the Bridger-Teton National Forest on Facebook @BridgerTetonNF or on X (formerly Twitter) @BridgerTetonNF.