(Cedar City, UT) – Next week, if the right weather conditions exist, the Cedar City Ranger District will implement Henrie Knolls, Duck Creek Hazardous Fuels Reduction, and Edward Spring prescribed fire projects (prescribed fire = managed ignitions to improve forest conditions).

The areas to be burned are located 5 miles north of Duck Creek Village (Henrie Knolls), greater Duck Creek, Strawberry, and Swains Creek areas (Duck Creek Hazardous Fuels Reduction), and 9 miles northeast of Paragonah (Edwards Spring).

Managed ignitions for these prescribed fires will continue as weather, fuel conditions, and air quality permit from October thru April 2013. Care and forethought is taken to reduce the amount of exposure to smoke from prescribed fire projects. Strict guidelines regarding smoke, set forth by the Division of Air Quality, must be met and followed before any ignition can begin.

These projects are designed to improve wildlife habitat, regenerate aspen, and reduce unnatural and heavy dead/downed woody debris, while improving ecosystem health. Healthier forests with less dead woody debris in the understory are far less susceptible to unwanted destructive wildfires.

For more information about this prescribed fire, contact Peter Goetzinger or Eric Eastep at the Cedar City Ranger District, (435) 865-3200.