The Powder River, Tongue, and Medicine Wheel Ranger Districts of the Bighorn National Forest have begun burning slash piles for the winter. Acting District Ranger Zachary Poff notes that “these piles are created during timber sales or thinning projects to reduce hazardous fuels that could burn in a wildfire, and are a necessary part of forest management”. Piles are burned when sufficient snow cover is available, and may remain smoking for weeks, depending on the size of the piles.
Pile burning is targeted for the following locations:
Powder River District
- Poison Creek near Hazelton – large timber sale piles
- Tepee Creek near Meadowlark Lake – large timber sale piles
- Smaller hand piles in Canyon Creek, Poison Creek/Billy Creek, Rabbit Creek, Middle Fork of Clear Creek, Clear Creek near Circle Park, Clear Creek near Paradise Ranch, Clear Creek near Camp Comfort, Pole Creek near WYDOT station, and Clear Creek at YMCA facility.
Tongue District
- Handpiles near Spear O Wigwam and the Lighter Creek cabins
Medicine Wheel District
- Handpiles in scattered locations.
For further information or questions, contact Jon Warder at jwarder@fs.fed.us or 307-674-2631.
