Fire on Buck Ridge
Lightning from thunderstorms on September 15 ignited a fire at Buck Ridge on the Manti-La Sal National Forest, near Wagon Road Ridge in Sanpete County. The fire is small, having burned only .2 acres of dead spruce and subalpine fir.
Forest Service personnel are managing the fire with the objective to remove excess fuels on the forest floor. It is not expected to burn a large area due to cooler fall temperatures. However, the fire is being actively managed and fire managers will suppress it if lives or property are endangered. Fire officials monitor the fire carefully, using sophisticated methods to forecast its behavior and working to keep it within designated boundaries.
Buck Ridge is a remote canyon with minimal access, south of Wagon Road Ridge and east of Skyline Drive. There are no structures in the area where the fire is burning.
There are no road or area closures at this time and none are anticipated, although visitors to the area are encouraged to stay away from the burn area for safety.
When the Forest Service manages a fire to obtain resource benefits they are returning fire to its natural place in the ecosystem, allowing it to burn dense vegetation and accumulated fuels such as dead timber and forest litter. Managed fires typically benefit such resources as wildlife habitat, grazing areas and watersheds. Managed fire can also create a fuel break to assist in the containment of future fires.
Further information is available on the web at www.utahfireinfo.gov or contact the Ferron Ranger District at 435-384-3296.
| 
