|
Contact: Dan Ng, 435.834.4740 Contact: Kenton Call, 435.865.3700
Bryce Canyon National Park and Dixie National Forest Coordinate Plans for the Dave's Hollow and Sunset Campground Prescribed Fires Between September 14, 2008 and September 30, 2010 fire officials from Bryce Canyon National Park and the Dixie National Forest plan to ignite the Dave's Hollow and Sunset Prescribed Fires. Depending on weather conditions, either burn may need to be postponed into October. The primary objective of these prescribed fires is to reduce wildland fire hazards to park and forest visitors and adjoining private lands. The park and surrounding forest lands are scheduled to remain open during this prescribed fire with the exception of some areas of being closed for short periods. The Dave's Hollow Prescribed Fire will be begin early next week covering 220 acres along the west side of the park's entrance road from entrance station to the northern boundary . Scheduled burning around Sunset Campground is planned for approximately September 27th covering 1,100 acres along the campground's perimeter extending onto the Dixie National Forest. Sunset Campground will be closed for the season starting on September 27th. An open house meeting will be held on Monday, September 13 at Ruby's Inn (near the entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park) from 4:30 – 6:30 pm. Park and forest officials will be on hand to discuss their respective prescribed fire programs and specific details of both the Dave's Hollow and Sunset Prescribed Burn. At times, visitors to the park and forest and area residents will see or smell smoke from the fires. Smoke on park and forest roadways may be a hazard and scenic visibility may be reduced in certain areas. At night residents in the Bryce Valley region may experience some smoke because of atmospheric inversions. The lack of fire on much of our public lands, mainly due to past suppression efforts, have contributed to high fuel accumulations and a change in forest structure. Prescribed fire is a way to reverse these changes brought on by fire exclusion. The policy of using fire as a tool will help decrease risks to life, property and resources. These burns will be conducted safely with the health of area residents, visitors and wildland fire fighters at the forefront of operations. Burning will only be allowed under certain weather and fuel moisture conditions. The future benefits of restoring the health of the ecosystem and reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires and threats to developed areas is vital to maintaining the integrity of the resources in the park and forest. By improving wildlife habitat and forest health these burns will sustain long-term appeal to the national and international visiting public and the economic benefits they bring to the tourism industry in the area. For more information please contact: Bryce Canyon National Park Dixie National Forest |
Last updated: February 24, 2015