Manti-La Sal National Forest fire officials plan to implement their spring prescribed burning program in several locations across the forest, including the Sanpete, Ferron, and Monticello Ranger Districts.
Prescribed burning is a proactive tool used to reduce hazardous fuels, which decreases the threat of high intensity, high-severity wildfires. It also reduces the risk of insect and disease outbreak, recycles nutrients that increase soil productivity, improves wildlife habitat, and supports aspen restoration.
Starting late-April, broadcast burning will be conducted on approximately 1500 acres on the New Canyon prescribed burn east of Ephraim in Sanpete County. Objectives of this project are to reduce hazardous fuel loading, improve wildlife habitat, and regenerate declining aspen stands.
Starting in May, broadcast burning will be conducted on approximately 2000 acres on the Shingle Mill prescribed burn unit west of Monticello in San Juan County as spring conditions allow. Objectives of this projects are to reduce fuel loading, restore appropriate fire return interval, and improve wildlife habitat.
Starting mid-May, re-entry broadcast burning will be conducted on approximately 2000 acres on The Pines prescribed burn west of Emery in Emery County. Objectives of this projects are to reduce hazardous fuel loading, restore appropriate fire return interval, and improve wildlife habitat within the ponderosa pine understory.
Smoke will be visible from these locations; however, it is not expected that the smoke will impact the residential areas in the lower elevations, as smoke should lift and dissipate quickly. All prescribed burns are subject to approval from the Utah Division of Air Quality. Members of the public may view approved prescribed fires at www.deq.utah.gov
For more information on the planned prescribed burns, please contact Sanpete Ranger District Office at 435-283-4151, Ferron/Price Ranger District Office at 435-384-2372, the Moab Ranger District Office at 435-259-7155 or the Monticello Ranger District Office at 435-587-2041, visit our website www.fs.usda.gov/mantilasal, or follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mantilasalnationalforest, on X (formerly known as twitter): https://twitter.com/ml_nf and Utah Fire Info: www.UtahFireInfo.gov