KAMAS, Utah(Wasatch Wave)-Per a report in the Wasatch Wave, as long as weather permits, a Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest prescribed fire will occur in the upper Provo area anytime between now and June 1.
Upon its occurrence, it will be a 6,007-acre burn located roughly 10 miles east of Kamas on the northeast side of the Mirror Lake Highway between the Norway Flats road on the east and the Upper Setting road on the west.
The primary objectives for the burn are to reduce the risk of uncharacteristically high severity fire through the reduction of hazardous fuels, as well as the promotion of aspen regeneration and improving the wildlife habitat as well as the forest’s overall health.
When the day of this burn occurs, the burn area, as well as U.S. Forest Service roads and trails, will be temporarily closed to the public and perhaps the day after so firefighters can clean up any debris that may linger.
Forest visitors should contact the Heber Ranger District Office at (435) 654-0470 or the Kamas office at (435) 783-4338 to confirm where this prescribed fire will be implemented.
In order not to violate resource and safety concerns, prescribed fires only occur when specific conditions can be met.
These include air, soil and vegetation moisture levels, temperatures, wind directions and speeds, smoke dispersal and expected fire behavior.
Prescribed fires will only be started when fuel moisture and weather conditions enable the smoke to dissipate or drift away from communities located near the burn area.
Qualified fire personnel will use hand-held drip torches, terra torch and a helicopter to ignite the fire. Engine and hand crews will monitor the fire area until it’s completely extinguished. Smoke may also be visible during the burn and is expected to linger during the evening as well as subsequent morning hours the following day.
