Hamilton, MT, April 1 — The Bitterroot National Forest is advising horseback riders, hikers, and other recreationists that prescribed burning is scheduled next week at the Bass Creek Recreation Area northwest of Stevensville.  Pending favorable conditions, the 620-acre burn could begin as early as Wednesday, April 6th and will temporarily impact some roads and trails in the recreation area for 2-3 days. To provide for visitor safety, the area will be closed to the public during active burning and monitoring operations.  The closure includes the popular Larry Creek Trails and Horse Trailer Parking, Bass Creek Nature and Physical Fitness Trails, and the Bass Creek Trail #4 and Trailhead.  See attached map for more details. 

Smoke will be visible north of Lake Como this afternoon as Bitterroot National Forest firefighters are completing a prescribed burn in the Como/Horse Lick units south of Lost Horse. 15 firefighters and one engine are assigned to the burn.All spring burning is implemented in compliance with Montana air quality standards and coordinated with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to reduce the impacts to neighbors, cooperators, and surrounding communities. Smoke may settle in the valley bottoms and drainages overnight, but is expected to dissipate within a few days. Thank you local communities and public for your support! Fire officials say smoke now is a much better alternative for the forest and our communities than smoke from an uncontrolled summer wildfire. Periodic prescribed burns prevent heavy fuel accumulation that would send a large amount of smoke into the air should a wildfire occur and better protect communities from future wildfires.

Underburning operations will continue today up to 100 acres in Bunkhouse Creek, south of Lake Como to reduce fuel and restore healthy forest conditions.  Ignitions are expected to begin around 11:30 am.  25 firefighters including and two engines are assigned to the burn.  At this time no closures are in place.  Those recreating in the area are advised to use caution and avoid areas where firefighters are directly working.  Smoke may be visible between Lake Como and Lost Horse and is expected to dissipate later in the day. 

Firefighters will continue ignitions on the Como/Horse Lick prescribed burn today north of Lake Como. Ignition time is scheduled around noon and crews hope to burn 45 acres. No trail closures are in place at this time, but please be aware firefighters are working in the area. Smoke will be visible between Lake Como and Lost Horse and is expected to dissipate later in the day.

There are 30 firefighters, including Bitterroot Hotshots, and two engines assigned to the burn. Underburning in this area will reduce surface fuels such as pine needles and dead vegetation and enhance forage availability and quality for wildlife. Firefighters will monitor and patrol this burn for the next few days.

For more information about prescribed fire planned on the forest this spring, or to see maps and photos of treatment areas visit the maps and photos tab. 

  

If you see smoke this afternoon north of Lake Como, firefighters are continuing their prescribed fire activities in the Como/Horse Lick units north of Como and South of Lost Horse. These photos were taken yesterday of the underburn operations. 19 firefighters, including the Bitterroot Hotshots, and two engines are assigned to today's 25-acre burn to reduce hazardous fuels, restore wildlife habitat, and better protect communities from future wildfires.

Burning will only be conducted if conditions are favorable including temperature, wind, fuel moisture, and ventilation for smoke. Firefighters will continue to implement, monitor, and patrol this burn over the weekend to ensure it meets forest health and public safety goals including air quality.

For more information about prescribed fire planned on the forest this spring, or to see maps and photos of treatment areas visit the maps and photos tab. 

 

Weather permitting, Bitterroot National Forest firefighters are planning to conduct underburning operations today north of Lake Como. 25 acres are scheduled and ignition time is 1pm. 13 firefighters and two engines are assigned to the burn. Smoke will likely be visible north of Lake Como and South of Lost Horse.

Underburning ignites vegetation under the forest canopy to reduce hazardous fuels. Prescribed burning operations will only be implemented if conditions are favorable. Those 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.

Thank you local communities and public for your support! Fire officials say smoke now is a much better alternative for the forest and our communities than smoke from an uncontrolled summer wildfire. Periodic prescribed burns prevent heavy fuel accumulation that would send a large amount of smoke into the air should a wildfire occur.

For more information about prescribed fire planned on the forest this spring, or to see maps and photos of treatment areas visit the maps and photos tab.
 
Maps:
Interactive Planned Prescribed Fire Map
Prescribed Burn Unit Maps (PDFs) 
 
 

Hamilton, MT, March 22 —With the arrival of spring, firefighters across the Bitterroot National Forest are gearing up for their annual prescribed burning operations to reduce hazardous fuels, restore wildlife habitat, and better protect communities from future wildfires.      

Pending favorable conditions, underburning operations could begin as early as tomorrow, Wednesday, March 23rd on the Darby/Sula Ranger District south of Lake Como.  Underburning, a type of prescribed fire treatment, ignites vegetation under the forest canopy or in open grassy meadows and focuses on the consumption of surface fuels.  Frequent, low-intensity fire is essential in improving habitat conditions by regenerating fire-adapted vegetation and encouraging the growth of new forage and food sprouts for wildlife. 

“This is the time of year when we have the opportunity to be proactive and meet our forest-wide goals of reducing hazardous fuels in key areas near communities,” said David Tingley, Bitterroot National Forest Fuels Fire Management Officer.  “Over the coming weeks, we will be burning on days that maximize safety and minimize smoke impacts to restore healthy forest conditions.”  

Spring prescribed fire activities normally take place from March to May and burning is highly weather and fuels dependent.  A mosaic pattern of burned and unburned areas will remain after treatments. 

All total, fire managers plan to burn approximately 3,774 acres this spring.  Smoke may be visible at times from West Fork Highway, East Fork Road, or Highway 93.  Treatment areas include:

Darby/Sula Ranger District – 2,292 acres are planned:

·        Waddell Units, south of Lake Como

·        Como/Horse Lick, south of Lost Horse and north of Lake Como

·        Trapper Bunkhouse, SW of Darby between Little Tin Cup & McCoy Creeks 

·        Cameron Blue, along East Fork Road near Guide Creek

·        Teepee Face & Schultz Saddle, east of Sula and north of Springer Memorial

·        Tolan Ecoburn, east of Sula between Reimel and Tolan Creeks

West Fork Ranger District – 815 acres are planned:

·        Lower West Fork Units, south of Trapper Creek and north of Lloyd Creek  

·        School Point Ecoburn Units, west of Boulder Creek and east of Halford Creek

Stevensville Ranger District – 667 acres are planned:

·        Upper Larry Bass Units, within the Bass Creek Recreation Area northwest of Stevensville

·        Three Saddle Units, Sapphire Mountains east of Stevensville  

Prescribed burning operations will only be conducted if conditions are favorable.  Favorable conditions include correct parameters for temperature, wind, fuel moisture, and ventilation for smoke.  When prescription criteria are met, firefighters implement, monitor, and patrol each burn to ensure it meets forest health and public safety goals.   

All prescribed burns will be implemented in compliance with Montana air quality standards and coordinated with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to reduce the impacts of smoke to neighbors, cooperators, and surrounding communities.  Smoke may settle in the valley bottoms and drainages overnight, but it is expected to dissipate within a few days.

For public safety, recreationists are asked to be aware of fire crews and vehicles in these areas.  The public is also asked to avoid traveling in prescribed burn units while crews are present, as well as trails and roads directly adjacent to the units.  Please take caution as roads and trails used as control lines for the burn could be temporarily impacted by low intensity fire and smoke.

For more information about specific burns or to be placed on a pre-burning notification list, please contact your local ranger district.  For burn updates, maps, and photos of project areas, visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8024/ or the Discover Bitterroot National Forest Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DiscoverBitterrootNF. 

The USDA Forest Service recently released a 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy that works with partners to protect communities and improve the resilience of America’s Forests.  The plan includes a dramatic increase in fuels and forest health treatments by up to four times current treatment levels in the West.  The Bitterroot National Forest and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Hamilton field office were also recently awarded the USDA’s Joint Chief’s Landscape Restoration Partnership Award.  The funding will support Fire Adapted Bitterroot, a three-year, 10,000 acre project, which seeks to address forest health concerns and reduce wildfire threats to communities and landowners in Ravalli County.       

Chickasaw National Recreation Area News Release 

Release Date:  March 25, 2022 

Contact: Megan Wilkins (580) 618-8302  

                    Megan_Wilkins@nps.gov   

Veterans Lake Fire update for March 25, 2022  

Sulphur, Okla.– The Veterans Lake Fire started as a brush pile burn on private land on Saturday evening, March 19, 2022. It escaped containment at approximately 6:30pm on Sunday, March 20, 2022 and spread quickly into Chickasaw National Recreation Area.  

The fire is holding at 448 acres. The fire is approximately 90% contained as of late Friday, March 25, 2022. Fire personnel are still monitoring for any rekindling along edges that could lead to new spread. The Multi-Use Trails remain closed while the fire continues to burn out in the center. Smoke will be visible as materials smolder and occasionally flare up. 

Other previously closed areas have reopened. Visitors using the Veterans Lake Trail should stay on trail. Smoldering materials and hazard trees have been removed from the trail but are still present off trail. 

National Park Service staff would like to thank those who also responded to the fire, including Sulphur Fire Department, Davis Fire Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Joy Volunteer Fire Department, Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department, Rock Prairie Volunteer Fire Department, Sulphur Police Department, Murray County Emergency Management, Davis Emergency Management, and the Murray County Sheriffs Office. 

For more information about Chickasaw National Recreation Area, visit www.nps.gov/chic or call the Travertine Nature Center at (580) 622-7234. 

About the National Park Service  

Chickasaw National Recreation Area News Release
 
Release Date:  March 21, 2022 
Contact: Megan Wilkins (580) 618-8302, Megan_Wilkins@nps.gov 

Veterans Lake Fire partially contained  

Sulphur, Okla.– The Veterans Lake Fire started as a controlled burn (brush pile) on private land on Saturday evening, March 19, 2022. It escaped containment at approximately 6:30pm on Sunday, March 20, 2022 and spread quickly into Chickasaw National Recreation Area. As of 10:00am Monday 21, 2022, it is estimated at 3200 acres with 40% containment. Rain is forecast for the area throughout Monday and overnight into Tuesday, which is expected to greatly aid containment efforts. 

Areas evacuated for the fire include Rock Creek Campground in the park, and private residences on Claremore Avenue and Limbyard Drive southeast of the park. 

Closures are in effect for the park. Northwest and Southwest Perimeter Road is closed to traffic. Area closures include Rock Creek Campground, Bromide Hill, Bromide Pavilion and Picnic Area, Walnut Grove, Black Sulphur Springs, Veterans Lake, Veterans Lake Trail, Cats Eye Road, the Multi-Use Trail system, the Bison Pasture Loop Trail, the Bromide Hill Trail, the Rock Creek Campground Trail, and the Inkana Trail. Flower Park and its trails remain open.

National Park Service staff would like to thank those who also responded to the fire, including Sulphur Fire Department, Davis Fire Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Joy Volunteer Fire Department, Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department, Rock Prairie Volunteer Fire Department, Sulphur Police Department, and the Murray County Sheriffs Office.

For more information about Chickasaw National Recreation Area, visit www.nps.gov/chic or call the Travertine Nature Center at (580) 622-7234.

www.nps.gov 

Chickasaw National Recreation Area News Release
Release Date:  March 21, 2022 
Contact: Megan Wilkins (580) 618-8302, Megan_Wilkins@nps.gov 

Veterans Lake Fire Update for March 22, 2022 

Sulphur, Okla.– The Veterans Lake Fire started as a controlled burn (brush pile) on private land on Saturday evening, March 19, 2022. It escaped containment at approximately 6:30pm on Sunday, March 20, 2022 and spread quickly into Chickasaw National Recreation Area. Incident Commander is Josh Williams of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, based out of Shawnee, OK. Assistant Incident Commander is Jason McDaniel of the National Park Service, based out of Lake Meredith National Recreation Area in Texas.

The fire is smaller than originally reported, with an estimated size of about 1000 acres as of early Tuesday, March 22, 2022. Approximately 250 acres are burning in the recreation area. The fire is approximately 10% contained, mostly on the northern edge. Fire crews from the National Park Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs will work today to secure the fire perimeter extending down the western and eastern flanks of the fire. Containment is expected to be complete by early next week.

Closures remain in effect for Veterans Lake, Veterans Lake Trail, Cats Eye Road, the Multi-Use Trail system, and the Inkana Trail. Other previously closed areas have reopened.
National Park Service staff would like to thank those who also responded to the fire, including Sulphur Fire Department, Davis Fire Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Joy Volunteer Fire Department, Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department, Rock Prairie Volunteer Fire Department, Sulphur Police Department, Murray County Emergency Management, Davis Emergency Management, and the Murray County Sheriffs Office.

For more information about Chickasaw National Recreation Area, visit www.nps.gov/chic or call the Travertine Nature Center at (580) 622-7234.

www.nps.gov