ST. GEORGE — Through January, fire personnel from the Bureau of Land Management and Utah’s Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands will burn multiple slash piles near Dammeron Valley in Washington County. Fire crews will use hand-ignition techniques to ignite the piles following snow or when appropriate weather conditions for prescribed fire exist.
Once burning begins, smoke will be visible from Highway 18, as well as all major road systems surrounding Dammeron Valley. Smoke may remain for several days after ignition takes place and can reduce visibility along roads near the project site. Motorists are advised to use caution when traveling in areas near prescribed fire activity. No road closures will be implemented for this prescribed burn.
Slash piles are accumulations of tree limbs, leaves, pine needles and other woody materials that are created naturally or by forest management activities like thinning and pruning. Burning slash piles reduces wildfire risk and will also complete the fuel break located just west of the community. A fuel break is a gap in vegetation or other combustible material that can act as a barrier to slow or stop the progress of a wildfire.
Federal and state partnership efforts like this one are lessening wildfire risk in communities throughout Utah by creating fuel breaks and reducing hazardous fuels near homes. Prescribed fire projects are consistent with land and resource management plans, public health considerations and approved prescribed fire plans.
Additional prescribed fire information is available online. For additional information, contact Nick Howell at 435-865-3026 or Paul Briggs at 435-865-3002. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question for the above individual. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours.
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