Air Force plans prescribed burn on Utah Test and Training Range

  • Published
  • By Barbara Fisher
  • 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- The Air Force plans a prescribed burn today through Oct. 23 on the Utah Test and Training Range’s North Range, which is located north of Interstate 80 between Wendover and Tooele. Travelers on I-80, near Exit 62, may notice fire and smoke during the burn period.

The burn is being accomplished to remove cheat grass, tumbleweed and other invasive species that are overtaking water, nutrients, space and sunlight from the native vegetation. Cheat grass and tumbleweed also create hazardous fuel for wildland fires, making them difficult to control in the area during the dry summer months, said Russ Lawrence, manager of Hill AFB’s Natural Resource Program.

“The burn area is approximately 500 acres,” Lawrence said. “This is nearby where we did an aerial spray this week of approximately 600 acres. We have found a combination of spraying and burning is the best approach to remove the invasive species.”

Similar work was tried last year in the same area, but weather conditions prevented the burn from being completed except on approximately 60 acres. A few years earlier, nearby acreage was successfully burned and sprayed. Those sections have since been reseeded.

“We hope to reseed this new burned and sprayed section next year with a diverse mix of vegetation that are more fire resistant to create a tactical fire break,” Lawrence said. “This will help us safely manage any wildland fires before they can get out of control.”

For more information about the burn, contact the Hill AFB public affairs office at 801-775-3652.