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Contact: Nancy Stimson, 307 467 5283
Devils Tower National Monument will implement a prescribed burn on Tuesday, May 7 through Wednesday, May 8. Fire management officials from the Northern Great Plains Fire Office and Devils Tower managers plan to burn 325 acres in the Belle Fourche Burn Unit of the Monument to remove build-up of dead fuels, exotic plants and woody herbaceous growth in the area which will encourage the growth of native prairie grasses and forbs and lessen the chances of possible wildland fires. "Unlike wildland fires, prescribed burns are carefully planned, conducted within an approved boundary and ignited only under specified weather conditions." said Reed Robinson, Monument superintendent. "Humidity, fuel moisture, wind speed and direction, and short- and long-range weather patterns are all considered in establishing acceptable set of conditions for a prescribed burn. If the acceptable set of conditions does not exist on the scheduled day, the burn may be postponed until desirable weather conditions occur." The Belle Fourche prescribed burn will be south and east of the Tower. The Red Beds Trail and Joyner Ridge Trail consist of the eastern boundary while the natural barriers of the red beds and the entrance road complete the eastern line. The south side of the burn unit is the paved entrance road and the western boundary on its most southern end will be established using a mow line. The entrance road, the Belle Fourche River Campground and the Devils Tower Visitor Center will remain open during the burn. A moderate volume of smoke may cause decreased visibility on the Monument road. Please use caution driving throughout the Monument. Tower Trail, Red Beds Trail and Joyner Ridge will experience temporary closures as well as climbing routes on the South, North and East faces of the Tower. All climbers must register at the climbing office before they begin their ascent. Please check at the visitor center for additional information on closures. To learn more about activities at Devils Tower National Monument call 307-467-5283, visit us online at www.nps.gov/deto or on Facebook at Devils-Tower-National-Monument-Official-NPS-Site. Devils Tower National Monument is located, 33 miles northeast of Moorcroft, WY, 27 miles northwest of Sundance, WY via U.S. 14, 9 Miles south of Hulett via WY 24, and 52 miles southwest of Belle Fourche, S.D. via S.D. Highway 34/WY24. - www.nps.gov/deto |
Last updated: February 24, 2015