JACKSON, Wyo. — Fish and Wildlife Service firefighters will be conducting a pile burn on the National Elk Refuge on Thursday, January 7 as conditions allow.

Firefighters will burn the pile under low fire behavior conditions resulting from wet weather and snow accumulation, a minimum of 3 inches of snow is required to burn. Smoke may be visible from the burn pile.

Fish and Wildlife Service fire management employees from the Rocky Basin Fire Management Zone, of which the National Elk Refuge is encompassed, will be implementing and managing the burn. Assistance from the Teton Interagency Fire Dispatch Center and local wildland fire resources will be utilized.

Public and firefighter safety is always the number one priority in all prescribed burn operations. Smoke from the burn pile may be visible while it is lit and burns down. The State of Wyoming issues the Fish and Wildlife Service a smoke permit prior to implementation. Fire management staff will remain on-site during the burning phase of the pile to assure complete combustion and consumption of all fuels and to monitor burning conditions for potential fire spread. Some smoke may linger in the pile area.