Work continues on Monument Ridge Prescribed Fire
by Bridger-Teton National Forest
July 15, 2024
Firefighters from the Bridger-Teton National Forest are continuing to work on extinguishing hot spots within the 3500-acre Monument Ridge prescribed fire near Bondurant, Wyoming. Smoke will continue to be visible from the Monument Ridge prescribed fire for the foreseeable future.
The 3500-acre prescribed fire was initiated on June 7, 2024 and continued with active ignitions through June 17, 2024. The following 11-days saw firefighters occasionally lighting internal pockets of fuels to strengthen control lines and limit the potential for any unwanted growth. Firefighters remain on scene and engaged.
There have been no human ignitions on the prescribed fire since June 28, 2024. All smoke currently being seen is from remaining interior fuels, such as rotten logs, burning. Due to hazards from the recently burned trees, firefighters are not going interior in these areas to put the fire out. There is no threat to the prescribed fire’s containment lines. Fire managers may still use interior ignitions as a tool to best secure the burn in the future.
Smoke from the Monument Ridge prescribed fire will be visible, in varying amounts, for the weeks to come, but air quality in the area has been minimally impacted. Since active ignitions ceased on June 17, 2024 the sensors in the area have shown that the air quality is "Good" most days, with occasional climbs to "Moderate" for a few hours at a time. Smoke sensors are still set up and active for the public to see accurate air quality data. Please visit https://fire.airnow.gov/
More information on the Monument Ridge Prescribed Fire:
The prescribed fire currently ongoing near the town of Bondurant in Sublette County, Wyoming is part of the Monument Ridge Vegetation and Recreation Management Project. The project, proposed by the Sublette County Collaborative, is multifaceted and includes fuels reduction actions within the wildland urban interface (WUI), wildlife habitat enhancement activities, and safety and access improvements for recreation. These activities will improve forest health; promote wildlife populations for elk, mule deer, and sage grouse; and provide sustainable recreation opportunities well into the future. The Forest Service prepared this area in 2020 by felling trees and allowing the fuels to cure during the subsequent time, preparing an adequate fuel bed for the prescribed fire.
The Forest Service implemented the prescribed fire with weather and conditions to meet project objectives. Forest personnel treated the area in a mosaic pattern, producing a complex mix of burned and unburned patches. These activities reduce hazardous fuels, enhance wildlife habitat by increasing forage (i.e., grass, forbs, and shrubs), and will stimulate aspen growth in areas where stands have declined due to the lack of wildfire.
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