InciWebSingle Publication
Could not determine your location.
Wildfire
Prescribed Fire
Burned Area
Response
Other
October 30, 2023 Pile Burning Update
Lolo National Forest Prescribed Fire Operations
Publication Type: Announcement 10/31/2023
Pile burning will continue across several districts today and throughout the week on the Lolo National Forest. Pile burning helps reduce the amount of fuels that are available to burn, lowering a wildfire’s intensity and reducing risks to firefighters and communities.
Missoula Ranger District: Firefighters will be burning 60 acres of piles by hand one mile northeast of the confluence of Gold Creek and the Blackfoot River. Fire crews also plan to burn up to 20 acres of piles on the west side of the upper Marshall Creek drainage. Smoke may be visible from I-90 along East Missoula and Bonner, Highway 20, and the Blackfoot River corridor.
Ninemile Ranger District: Firefighters will burn approximately 31 acres of piles associated with fuels reduction projects in the Cromwell drainage, 3 miles west of the Ninemile District Office and in the Moncure drainage, 10 miles northwest of the District Office. Smoke may be visible from the Ninemile Valley.
Superior Ranger District: Firefighters will initiate up to 22 acres of pile burning operations on two units located east of Superior. Smoke may be visible from Superior and I-90.
Seeley Lake Ranger District: Five miles northwest of Seeley Lake, firefighters will work to burn approximately 59 acres of piles to reduce hazardous fuel accumulation near the Wildland Urban Interface. Smoke may be visible from the town of Seeley Lake and residences on the Boy Scout Road.
Applying prescribed fire on the land at the right place, at the right time, under the right conditions benefits the land and the surrounding communities.
Prescribed fires are only implemented under the right conditions. Favorable conditions include correct temperature, wind, fuel moisture and ventilation for smoke. When these criteria are met, firefighters implement, monitor, and patrol each burn to ensure it meets forest health and public safety goals including air quality.
