Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
(Nenzel, Neb.) April 21, 2024 — The Bessey Ranger District successfully conducted a 2,650- acre prescribed burn on Sunday, April 21st at the Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest near
Nenzel, NE. During burning operations, two areas burned outside control lines that totaled
approximately 20 acres. Though the burn was outside of control lines, all fire was kept on Forest Service lands and within the area future prescribed burning was planned.
While onsite resources were quick to begin suppression on the burn outside the control lines,
the decision was made to order contingency resources, which were local volunteer fire
departments including two engines from Kilgore, NE and one engine from Cody, NE.
The burns outside the control lines were contained prior to the arrival of contingency resources. Although the local volunteer fire departments could have traveled back to their home units, the engines graciously agreed to continue supporting fire operations. This help allowed successful
completion of ignition operations and ensured all control lines were secured.
The objectives of this prescribed burn were to reduce Eastern Red Cedar and other woody
encroachment within the unit as well as reduce thatch and ground litter to help improve grazing conditions. The reduction of fuel loading will also help with fire suppression in the event of a
wildfire. The objectives were met successfully according to fire staff.
Prescribed burns of this scale cannot often be implemented by just one agency or entity. It is the cooperation between interagency groups that allow for the accomplishment of fire management safety and the management of resources. Our cooperators for this project included Kilgore VFD, Cody VFD, Cherry County Emergency Management, Fort Pierre VFD, US Fish and Wildlife
Service, National Park Service, as well as the Bessey, Fort Pierre, Wall, Fall River, and Pine
Ridge Ranger Districts of the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands.
The Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands would like to thank everyone who supported not only the prescribed burn at Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest, but all completed prescribed
burns this year.