Prescribed Burns Planned in Southeast Wyoming

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — Smoke from prescribed burns could be visible in parts of southeast Wyoming next week.

Fire crews plan to take advantage of favorable weather to conduct prescribed burns in the Pole Mountain area. Medicine Bow National Forest officials say they're targeting dead underbrush in stands of large ponderosa pine, as well as some juniper and deteriorating aspen stands.

The fires will range in size from a couple acres to as big as 100 acres.

The goal is to improve forest health and wildlife habitat while reducing the risk of dangerous wildfires. Similar fires have taken place elsewhere on Pole Mountain recent years.