Prescribed burning planned in Upton/Osage area
ClapSpur RX Unit 8 map
Approximately 1,300 acres are planned for treatment with prescribed fire in Weston County, Wyo.
(DOUGLAS, Wyo.) March 31, 2025 – Building on previous prescribed fire in the area, USDA Forest Service fire/fuels staff are planning to implement spring burning in the Upton/Osage area of the Thunder Basin National Grassland. Throughout April and into May, weather forecasts predict suitable weather and fuel moisture conditions to provide a window of opportunity for the vegetation treatment on approximately 1,300 acres.
The proposed Clay Spur burn unit is located on National Forest System lands managed by the Douglas Ranger District in Weston County, Wyo. The prescribed fire area is bordered by natural fuels breaks, roads, livestock trails, and creek bottoms.
The area is 16 miles northwest of Newcastle, Wyo., five miles north of Osage, Wyo., and immediately west of Kellog Reservoir. The hills and draws of the burn unit are composed of ponderosa pine, intermixed with juniper, cottonwoods, with grass and sagebrush flats. Elevation is 4,600 feet.
Approximately 500 acres were successfully burned in the area during spring 2021, as well as 300 acres in spring 2023 and 1,200 acres in spring 2024.
Much of the vegetation within the project area has not experienced fire in the past 50-100 years. The Clay Spur treatment will mimic historically natural fire disturbances by burning in a mosaic pattern. The burn will benefit a variety of vegetative species and their age class diversity, as well as wildlife habitat and domestic stock pasture. Fire danger will also be reduced by removing potentially hazardous fuels.
Necessary smoke permits have been obtained from the State of Wyoming. Smoke will likely be visible in surrounding communities and along Highway 16.
Each prescribed burn planned by the Forests has gone through an environmental analysis and has a detailed burn plan developed in advance.
For more project information, contact North Zone Fire Management Officer Nick Collard at (970) 688-0079.
Fire/fuels information may also be found on this website, https://fs.usda.gov/mbr, or you can follow the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland on our X and Facebook accounts.