Powderhouse Prescribed Fire Postponed

Fire crews conducted a test fire today and moved forward with ignitions on 50 acres on the south end of the prescribed fire unit. Test fires are set prior to every prescribed fire to evaluate such things as fire behavior, fire effects, detection performance or control measures before deciding to move ahead with the ongoing ignitions.

After today’s evaluation, fire managers will not proceed with ignitions for the time being due to wet conditions. They will look at other opportunities across the forest.

Forest leadership appreciates all the supporting partners, including the Valle Vidal Grazing Association, which was present at this morning’s on-site briefing (pictured).

Fire crews will continue to patrol and monitor the 50-acre test area until the fire is called out.

———

Lastly, our last post on this prescribed fire generated a lot of questions. Here are some answers:

WHY BURN DURING HUNTING SEASON?

Fire managers are always looking to reduce the impact of prescribed fires, including the timing of activities like hunting. Dozens of factors make up a prescription, which includes wind speeds, relative humidity, onsite and adjacent fuel moistures and how smoke is expected to disperse. These conditions line up in the fall season most consistently.

Other seasons are more difficult. Snow limits understory burning (but not pile burning) in the winter, peak fire season limits it in spring and the monsoon in the summer.

With the Powderhouse Prescribed Fire, fire managers were trying to burn in between the end of the archery hunt, which ended today, and the beginning of the elk hunts, which begin Oct. 11.

WHAT ABOUT THE CATTLE?

Each year, staff engage with the Valle Vidal Grazing Association to coordinate on upcoming prescribed fires. Regular fire enhances forage quality for cattle and grazing species like deer and elk, including opening up new areas by clearing dense vegetation in the understory of tree stands. This means more space to roam and less grazing pressure on concentrated areas.

WHAT ABOUT THE WEATHER?

Fire managers work with the National Weather Service for ongoing weather conditions. Despite not moving forward at this time, the latest spot forecast can be viewed online.

THE BIG PICTURE

Fire is an essential part of the ecology of our local forests and has shaped the Valle Vidal into the beautiful area we see today.

We have seen time and again that when a wildland fire encounters an area that has previously been treated with a prescribed fire, fire behavior moderates in ways that increase the safety of first responders, allow for community protection and result in better resource protection outcomes, including for tree survival and watershed protection.

If this year’s planned prescribed fires in the Valle Vidal are completed later, they will be part of a nearly contiguous 40,000-acre where fire has recently maintained the landscape, with more to come in future years.