RAPID CITY - Black Hills residents awoke today to low-hanging
smoke, the after effects of an 840 acre prescribed burn Thursday by
the U.S. Forest Service. The burn occurred east of Slate Creek Dam,
eight miles northwest of Hill City.
And if you see more smoke today, don't be alarmed.
Another prescribed burn is scheduled to be ignited this
morning 1-1/2 miles east of Old Bald Peak. Although the project
size of the total burn is 258 acres, similar weather conditions
could cause the hazy conditions to persist.
The objective of the projects is to reduce fuels and enhance
wildlife habitat, according to a news release from the Forest
Service.
Prescribed burns allow fire managers to reintroduce fire under
a more controlled environment, usually in the spring or fall, to
lower fire intensities and produce fire effects that are more
desirable to land managers and the public. After the burns are
completed, the prescribed burn area will also serve to lessen fire
intensities from naturally ignited fires such as lightning and
provides fire managers more options when suppressing future
fires.
For more information on the Black Hills National Forest, go to
www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills.
