Petty Mountain 2003

The Petty Mountain Prescribed Fire on the Ashley National Forest Roosevelt/Duchesne Ranger District was ignited on September 24, 2003. The fall burn plan for this prescribed fire identified the aspen stands as natural barriers that would slow and eventually stop the north advancement of the fire. However, due to the leaf fall that exposed the ground fuels to solar radiation from the sun, the ground fuels under the aspen stands were dry enough to carry the fire up the slope into the adjacent conifer stands. The fire eventually threatened the Maximum Manageable Area (MMA) which prompted holding actions the next day. Three days later, funding for additional holding actions was depleted. The line officers decided that the fire would be monitored for 48 hours to see if the conditions would change and the spread of the fire would decrease.

Prescribed Fire Operations