Pile Burning Planned in Black Hills Nat’l Forest South of Sundance

CUSTER, SD. – Forest Managers continue to reduce hazardous fuels on the Black Hills National Forest.

Weather permitting, fire crews plan to begin burning piles on the Forest today and may continue through the week. Piles to be burned are located on the Bearlodge Ranger District south of Sundance, Wyoming, near Clark Road. On the South Dakota side, piles will be burned near the Nemo area.

Smoke will be visible and may impact local communities, including Sundance, WY and Nemo, SD. Smoldering material may continue to burn days after burning operations are completed and firefighters will monitor and check the piles for several days after they have been lit.

Piles are created from timber sale slash and tree thinning operations.

Forest officials appreciate the support from local communities and said that reducing fuels this time of year makes fire suppression operations safer during the summer months.

Burning operations will continue across the Black Hills National Forest this winter as conditions permit.

Public safety and firefighter safety are the top priority when considering any prescribed burn operation on the landscape.

For pile burning notifications, sign up at http://gpfireinfo.blogspot.com/.

For more information on the Black Hills National Forest, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills.