BLM to conduct pile burn near Island Park  

Island Park, Idaho (KIFI) - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Idaho Falls District will burn nine slash piles created from past fuels treatments to remove hazardous vegetation and reduce the risk of wildfires near Island Park, Nov. 28–Dec. 15.  

Fire managers plan to light the piles on Nov. 28, and will monitor the piles over multiple days.     

"The purpose of the Shotgun Valley project is to protect home developments, ranches, and businesses adjacent to the project area from uncharacteristic, high-intensity wildland fire," Idaho Falls District Manager Mary D'Aversa said.  

This project is considered a pile burn, meaning crews will hand ignite the piles created from mechanical fuel treatments to reduce slash by at least 90%. Once initiated, prescribed burns last one to two days, with personnel and equipment patrolling the area for up to five days afterward. Smoke from these prescribed burns may be visible from considerable distances due to project locations, vegetation types and burning conditions.