Manti-La Sal National Forest announces fall prescribed burns
As conditions allow, broadcast burning will be conducted on the New Canyon prescribed burn unit east of Ephraim in Sanpete County.
PRICE — As part of its ongoing efforts to promote forest health and reduce wildfire risks, Manti-La Sal National Forest fire officials are set to implement a prescribed burning program this fall within the Sanpete and Ferron/Price Ranger Districts.
Scheduled to take place from late September through November, the program will focus on approximately 1,000 acres in units 4 and 5 of the New Canyon prescribed burn area, situated east of Ephraim in Sanpete County. This strategic initiative aims to lower hazardous fuel loads, enhance wildlife habitats, protect local watersheds, and rejuvenate declining aspen populations.
Residents of Ephraim and the surrounding areas should expect to see smoke during the burning operations; however, officials assure that smoke will dissipate quickly and is not anticipated to affect lower elevation residential neighborhoods. All prescribed burns are conducted with the approval of the Utah Division of Air Quality, and the public can monitor approved burns online at http://deq.utah.gov.
In addition to the New Canyon area, the forest management team plans to conduct pile burning in late September and throughout the winter months, contingent on adequate moisture or snow to ensure fire containment. Approximately 300 acres of piles near Knob Mountain and Oak Creek drainage, as well as 750 acres in the South Manti project area near Mount Baldy, are slated for burning. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to improve wildlife habitats and mitigate hazardous fuels.
Moreover, remnants from logging operations in the Boulger and Mine timber sales near Electric Lake and Trough Springs Ridge will also be addressed through prescribed pile burning.
Prescribed burning is a proactive measure that serves multiple purposes: it reduces the potential for intense wildfires, mitigates insect and disease outbreaks, recycles nutrients back into the soil, improves wildlife habitats, and supports the restoration of aspen stands.
For more details about the planned prescribed burns, residents can reach out to the Sanpete Ranger District Office at 435-636-3300 or the Ferron/Price Ranger District Office at 435-636-3580. For updates and additional information, visit http://fs.usda.gov/mantilasal or follow Manti-La Sal National Forest on social media via Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.
As the fall season approaches, these critical forest management practices underscore the commitment to maintaining the health and safety of our natural landscapes.
