News Release

Pile Burns Planned to Reduce Vegetation in Lehman Flats

Areas where Pile Burns will be taking place are bordered in red.

NPS

News Release Date: January 18, 2024

Contact: Travis Mason-Bushman, 775.234.7521

BAKER, NV – National Park Service firefighters are preparing to burn 30 acres of piles in the Lehman Flats area of Great Basin National Park. The piles, located along the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive near Lower Lehman Campground, are the result of aggressive efforts by park managers to reduce hazardous vegetation (known as fuels) and the risk of catastrophic wildfire.  

No road, trail, or campground closures are expected, but visitors are asked to stay clear of burning piles and to be watchful for firefighters and vehicles along park roads. 

Firefighters from Lake Mead National Recreation Area will begin igniting the piles only when prescriptions for weather conditions, fuel moisture, and snow cover have been met. The project is expected to begin next week and continue for several weeks, depending on conditions. 

Smoke from the piles will be visible from many areas in and around the park, including Lehman Caves Visitor Center, Baker, and the Snake Valley. Please do not report this smoke; local law enforcement and firefighters will be aware of burn operations.  

Great Basin National Park managers are working to reverse the effects of decades of fire exclusion and restore natural fire ecology. For more information about the park’s fire management program, visit https://www.nps.gov/grba/learn/nature/fire.htm. 
 

www.nps.gov 
 

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 428 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.