October 23, 2025—Slash pile burning will begin on the Big Piney and Pinedale Ranger Districts of the Bridger-Teton National Forest now that weather conditions are becoming favorable. Firefighters will be implementing pile burning operations throughout both districts beginning Monday, Oct. 27 provided weather and fuel prescriptions are met.
Crews will focus on piles in the Monument Ridge Fuels Reduction project first. These piles are located near the town of Bondurant, WY south of Hwy 191 mainly in the Kilgore Creek/Upper Hoback and Clarks Draw locations. Other locations include Horse Creek, New Fork, and Big Sandy. Additional locations may be targeted at a later time.
Fuels reduction programs, which involve mechanical or hand thinning projects, remove trees to reduce forest density and improve forest health. Hand piles result from crews using chainsaws to thin the forest and then piling the unmarketable limbs, saplings, and brush.
Piles are only ignited when fuels managers are confident that the project can be undertaken safely and successfully. Snow cover, fuel moisture, precipitation, wind, temperature, and available firefighter staffing are all considered before beginning a pile burn.
No road or area closures will be scheduled and smoke will be visible for short periods of time.