Park City Municipal has contracted Alpine Forestry to conduct pile burning operations near your neighborhood. Details are as follows:

Schedule: Pile burning will occur over the next several weeks, when conditions and permitting allow, starting Wednesday November 15, 2023. Next round of work expected to begin Friday, December 1, 2023.

Locations: There are approximately 1,500 piles scattered throughout 55 acres on the Treasure Hill Property (see map).

What is Pile Burning?

• Pile burning is the controlled ignition of organic materials following the removal of wildfire fuels (i.e. dead trees, excessive underbrush, etc). Pile burning is used in defensible space efforts where steep terrain and isolated areas eliminate options for chipping or removing material. Crews strategically construct piles from cut vegetation with the intention of burning them. The following criteria must be met to perform this work:
• Weather conditions support adequate smoke dispersal.
• Snow and/or other precipitation provide enough moisture in the burn area to limit fire spread.
• Appropriate tools and staffing are available.

Why perform this work?

• Park City lies within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), which means conditions are conducive to a large-scale wildland fire event, thereby posing significant threat to human life and property.
• Defensible space helps protect properties from catching fire – either from embers, direct flame, or radiant heat.
• In the event firefighters are needed to defend your home, defensible space provides a safe area to work in.

What about local wildlife and vegetation?

• Sageland Collaborative, who performed the 2022 Wildlife Assessment (full report: bit.ly/Wildlife22), recommends wildfire mitigation be performed outside of the breeding/nesting season of birds, which is May-July.
• Forests in our region have evolved to withstand regular intervals of disturbance, such as wildfire. Naturally occurring wildfires are an important part of the forests’ life cycle– the work performed aims to mimic the positive effects of wildfires in the forest while lowering the risk to surrounding infrastructure.

What to expect:

• Smoke will be visible during operations and as piles smolder overnight.
  • Please do NOT report
• Piles may remain hot for a time period after ignition.
• Crews will ignite, monitor and ‘mop up’ piles until extinguished.
• Crew vehicles will be parked on the roadside near work sites.
• Trail/area closures will be in place as necessary.

What will it look like?