This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Spring. Warmer days, wildflowers in bloom, birds building nests — and smoke billowing on the horizon from intentionally set forest fires.
Veronica Magnuson, ranger for the Cedar City District of southern Utah's Dixie National Forest, wants to make sure that plans for the latter don't alarm area residents or passers-by this spring.
On Friday, she announced the beginning of the Forest Service's annual spring prescribed burn program, noting that such projects both reduce the threat of out-of-control wildfires later this summer and serve to revitalize forest lands and spur new growth.
During the next three months, with timing depending on conditions present, Forest Service crews will ignite and monitor fires in the Cooper Knoll Central and Duck Creek Fuels Aspen areas. The Cooper Knoll prescribed burn is expected to cover 1,500 acres, while the Duck Creek burn is targeting 200 acres.
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