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The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest may implement prescribed fire projects this spring, as weather and fuels conditions allow. Prescribed fire and pile burning activities are highly weather dependent, relying on close coordination with the National Weather Service and air quality specialists to determine the best possible weather conditions to promote smoke dispersal and limit smoke impacts. 

Why use prescribed fires? Prescribed fires help reduce surface fuels, increasing landscape wildfire resilience and reducing the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire effects on the landscape. In addition, they improve and maintain forest health and wildlife habitat and eliminate invasive species. The forest ecosystems in the Northern Rockies have evolved with fire, with many of them relying on periodic fires to establish and maintain forest health.  “The intent behind cool season prescribed fires is to reintroduce fire as a natural disturbance agent on the landscape under conditions that are more achievable for natural resource objectives,” said prescribed fire burn boss and Fuels Program Manager for the Forest, Greg Schenk.

Benefits of prescribed burning as a forest management tool:

• Protects communities and infrastructure by reducing hazardous fuels and the risk of future high-intensity wildfires.
• Improves and supports wildlife habitat for many species on the Forest.
• Limits the spread of invasive plant species and maintains native ecosystems.
• Promotes the growth of trees, plants, and wildflowers.
• Continues the historic, natural fire regime of periodic disturbance by fire. 

How do we plan? Prescribed fires are planned for various units across the Forest; however, the window of opportunity for prescribed burning is affected by several factors. Safety factors, weather conditions, air quality, personnel availability, and environmental regulations are continually monitored before implementation to determine feasibility of moving forward with the prescribed fire operations, during implementation, and after completion of the unit(s). 

Prescribed fires are carefully planned and conducted in accordance with a written burn plan. Prior to implementation, Forest fire managers coordinate with local cooperators, county officials, and interagency partners. When prescription criteria are met, firefighters implement, monitor, and patrol each burn to ensure it meets forest health and public safety objectives.

Depending on the fuels and weather conditions, the prescribed fire units could be burned as early as mid-April.

Public notifications: Prior to initiating the prescribed fire or pile burning operations, fire professionals assess conditions, conduct a test burn, and notify local governments and interested publics via website postings, email, social media, and news releases. Implementation and accomplishment updates will also be posted to the Forest website, the Prescribed Fires Inciweb page, and the Forest’s Wildland Fire Information Facebook page.

Smoke: Implementation of prescribed fire activities is coordinated with the National Weather Service and air quality specialists to determine the best possible weather conditions to promote smoke dispersal and limit smoke impacts. Smoke may be visible from adjacent communities and roadways. Smoke tends to pool in lower elevations and along roadways during the evenings and early morning hours, so motorists should take note during those times.

Safety and monitoring: Trained fire professionals who have studied fire behavior and fire control techniques conduct prescribed fires in such a way to ensure the safety of the fire crew, nearby residents, and property. Schenk added, “The safety of our firefighters and the public is always our number one priority. We only conduct the prescribed fire operations if conditions allow – conditions must be just right on the ground, as identified in the corresponding plans.” 

For more information about these projects, please visit the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest website or our Prescribed Fire page on Inciweb and follow us on our Wildland Fire Information Facebook for updates. Contact the B-D Forest Fire PIO, Terina Hill, at (406) 683-3920, or the B-D Fuels Program Manager, Greg Schenk, at (406) 683-3870, for additional information.