Prescribed Fire Planned at Lava Point

[ratagonia]

Prescribed Fire Planned at Lava Point

Date: September 24, 2009
Contact: David Eaker, 435-772-7811

According to Superintendent Jock Whitworth, Zion National Park plans to start ignition of a 150 acre prescribed fire at Lava Point during the week of September 27th, 2009. The exact date of ignition will depend upon weather conditions and the availability of firefighting resources. The burn may be postponed or canceled if conditions are unfavorable. Lava Point is located off the Kolob Terrace Road near Blue Springs Reservoir, approximately 20 miles north of Virgin, Utah. All of the Lava Point area including the campground, picnic area, viewpoint and the West Rim Trailhead Road, will be closed the day ignition begins and remain so for the duration of the project. These areas will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.

This hand ignited prescribed fire is expected to last for 2-5 days. Some interior, residual smoke may be visible for a few days after ignition has occurred. The fire will be managed and monitored daily by firefighters until it is declared out. This prescribed fire is part of a multi-phase project which began in 2004 to reduce the hazardous fuel buildup and to encourage aspen regeneration. This project will also reduce the risk to adjacent private property and structures from wildfire. Previous mechanical thinning and pile burning will now be followed up with the final phase of the project, prescribed fire.

The area in and around Lava Point is one of the six original critical wildland urban interface focus areas identified in the Color Country Interagency Fire Management Zone. This area, also known as the