In efforts to avoid dangerous wildfires, the Black Hills National Forest Service is burning slash piles.
While these flames may look intimidating, the amount of snow up here in Deadwood helps prevent these fires from spreading. And that’s why the recent weather is ideal for the Fuel Reduction Project.
“We look for conditions that are conducive to burning which is right behind me here with the snow coverage. It’s an opportunity for us to tackle and burn these hand piles that were created by contractors a couple years ago,” John Snyder, Fuel Ast. Fire Management Officer, said.
About 10 firefighters are working to burn the almost 300 slash piles.
This is the second phase of the project that went into planning nearly 5 years ago.