From Laughlin Air Force Base
Laughlin Air Force Base personnel will conduct a controlled burn from Jan. 15-17 to reduce Laughlin’s fuel loads.
“This will lower the risk of wildfires. Prescribed burns will also, maintain, restore and improve Laughlin’s unique ecosystems,” said Darren Johnson, 47 Civil Engineer Squadron Natural Resource Program Manager.
“Laughlin AFB has teamed up with the Bureau of Land Management wildland fire crew to create and implement a Burn Plan. Many specific conditions must be met for the burn to occur, including fuel moisture, weather, wind speed and direction,” Johnson said. “Conditions will be monitored up to and throughout the burn by the burn boss.”
All designated burn areas will be inaccessible to the general public or base employees for several days, the weekend of the burn, until those areas are declared safe by the proper officials [burn boss].
Smoke is an unavoidable consequence of fire and will be mitigated as much as possible by the burn boss meeting weather specification, requiring specific wind direction and speed. Smoke plumes from a prescribed fire usually rise high into the air where the smoke dissipates, Johnson said.
If there are any questions please call Johnson from Laughlin Environmental at (830) 298-4298 or Laughlin Public Affairs at (830) 298-5262.
