BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Authorities have released plans to stop devastating wildfires in southwestern Idaho, southeastern Oregon and northern Nevada with one option creating 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) of fuel breaks up to 400 feet (120 meters) wide along existing roads.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management on Friday released a draft environmental impact statement for the Tri-State Fuel Breaks Project and is taking public comments through the end of November.
The BLM says creating fuel breaks by clearing vegetation will help firefighters stop wildfires and protect key habitat for sage grouse and other wildlife on land also used by ranchers and outdoor enthusiasts.
The BLM says options include fewer miles of fuel breaks all the way down to no fuel breaks at all.
The region in recent decades has seen repeated giant rangeland wildfires.
