Fires Cancelled In BCNP BRYCE CANYON NAT'L PARK According to Superintendent Craig Axtell, two prescribed fires slated for this fall have been cancelled due to dry weather conditions in Bryce Canyon National Park. The first burn unit, a 3 15-acre prescribed fire project (the Fairyland 2 Burn), is located near Fairyland Point in the northern portion of the park. The second burn unit, a 1,115 acre prescribed fire project (the Paria Burn), is located two miles south of the visitor center. In addition to the dry conditions, shorter days may not allow the smoke to dissipate prior to nightfall, thus increasing the chances for smoke impacts to the local communities. Park managers are very concerned about potential smoke impacts and use the best management practices known to mitigate smoke. The goal of the prescribed fire program in Bryce is to use prescribed fire, where appropriate, appropri-ate, for the restoration of fire-dependent fire-dependent ecosystems and species-specific resource management man-agement goals. Prescribed fire projects are to be conducted in a manner consistent with land and resource management plans, public health considerations, and approved prescribed fire plans. The policy of using fire as a tool will help decrease risks to life, property, and resources; prescribed fires will help perpet uate the natural resource values for which Bryce Canyon National Park was established. Since the park was established estab-lished in 1928, wildland fires have been routinely suppressed. Over the years, this practice has contributed to high fuel loadings, load-ings, reduction in extent of grasslands, and old growth pon-derosa pon-derosa pine forests being replaced by more shade-tolerant species. Prescribed fire is a treatment to reverse changes brought on by fire exclusion. It will reduce fuel loadings, increase success of remaining ponderosa pine forests to withstand with-stand natural fires, reduce extent of brush lands, rejuvenate aspen stands, thin dense mixed conifer stands, and improve wildlife habitat. The reintroduction of fires to the park is an effort to restore it to its pre-settlement state. These prescribed fires are being conducted under the guidance guid-ance of Bryce Canyon's Fire Management Plan, and are two of several prescribed fires anticipated antic-ipated in the next few years. The park works very closely with other state and federal land management agencies in the planning and management of these fires. For more information about these or other prescribed fire projects planned in Bryce Canyon National Park, contact Fire Management Officer Bruce Fields at 435-834-4912.