Descanso Ranger District fuel crews continue burning piles in Mount Laguna off Los Hurcos Rd today. Smoke may be visible from Sunrise Hwy, the I-8 and surrounding communities. We ask the public not to call 911 if smoke is seen in the area.

This project funded in part by the President's Inflation Reduction Act which is a part of confronting the wildfire crisis: https://fs.usda.gov/managing-land/wildfire-crisis.

Prescribed fire plays an important role in forest health and in reducing extreme wildfires and their negative impact. These fires also help reduce heavy fuel loads while simultaneously opening the conifer forest structure and maintaining the health of meadow habitats. Fire is also used to enhance native plant communities and cultural landscapes and improve wildlife habitats. Another goal is to provide defensible space for communities and developed areas within and surrounding the CNF. With all fire comes smoke, and the U.S. Forest Service works to mitigate smoke impacts from prescribed fires on the communities in the area.

Tahoe National Forest's Yuba River Ranger District plans to burn piles off Tyler Foote Rd on the San Juan Ridge near Columbia Hill, today March 21, 2024. 

Today fuel crews on the DRD conducted a prescribed burn in Mount Laguna off Los Huros Rd, accomplishing 20 acres of piles. The fuel crews will continue to burn tomorrow 3/21/24 in the same area. These projects are funded in part by the Presidents Inflation Reduction Act which is a part of confronting the wildfire crisis.

This week firefighters on the Upper Lake Ranger District are planning to burn 100 acres of machine piles, located at Pine Mountain and M1 Road. Ignitions will begin Wednesday morning and continue potentially through Friday, pending favorable conditions.

Firefighters from Covelo Ranger District as well as the Northshore Fire Department’s Hogback Ridge crew will be assisting on the burn. 

Weather conditions look favorable this week with precipitation coming in Friday and through the weekend. 

The Lolo National Forest, along with their interagency partners and neighbors, is preparing to conduct spring prescribed fire projects to reduce hazardous fuels, restore wildlife habitat, and create better protection around communities from future wildfires. 

“As snow melts and opens access to planned burn units, we will take advantage of favorable conditions to start prescribed burning as soon as this week, ” said Jeff Hayes, Lolo National Forest Fuels Specialist.  “Over the next two-three months, we will plan burn operations on days which minimize smoke impacts, restore healthy forest conditions and wildlife habitat, and/or meet fuels reduction goals.”

Prescribed fire operations are a key component of the Wildfire Crisis Strategy that works with partners to reduce wildfire risk to communities, critical infrastructure, natural resources and improve the resilience of America’s Forests. Prescribed fires are carefully planned and implemented in accordance with a written burn plan. Prior to implementation, local fire managers coordinate with local cooperators, counties, and partners. When prescription criteria are met, firefighters implement, monitor, and patrol each burn to ensure it meets forest health and public safety goals.

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

Some of these prescribed fires are supported through partnerships with Montana DNRC, Nature Conservancy, Missoula and Frenchtown Rural Fire Departments, Bureau of Land Management, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Mule Deer Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Upland Game Bird Enhancement Group. 

For additional information about these burns follow the Lolo National Forest on Facebook or visit InciWeb..

ELKINS, W.Va., March 15, 2024 — Monongahela National Forest staff plan to conduct prescribed burns on 3,667 acres in Pocahontas, Greenbrier and Tucker counties from March through June, weather permitting. The purposes of these treatments are to re-establish fire’s natural role in the forest ecosystem, improve forest health and wildlife habitat, and reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires. 

Project areas planned for prescribed burns this spring include:

• Guinn Ridge – 1,462 acres (Pocahontas County)
• Ramshorn Ridge – 1,005 acres (Pocahontas County)
• Upper Greenbrier North – 514 acres (Pocahontas County)
• Lake Sherwood Piles and Dam – 5 acres (Greenbrier County)
• Meadow Creek Units 1 & 2 – 243 acres (Greenbrier County)
• Rucker Gap – 384 acres (Greenbrier County)
• Nursery Bottom – 54 acres (Tucker County) 

Each burn area will be closed to the public on the day of the burn, and may be closed for several days after, to ensure public safety. Signs will be posted on roads near all prescribed burn areas before and during burning. Residents and Forest visitors may see and smell smoke for several days. If you encounter smoke on the highway, slow down, turn on your vehicle’s lights and drive appropriately for the conditions.

Prescribed burns are conducted under specific weather conditions and are designed to accomplish pre-determined forest management goals. Monongahela National Forest follows strict guidelines for conducting prescribed burns, and takes into consideration environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, smoke dispersion and wind. If any environmental conditions are not within limits, the burn will be postponed.

Local radio stations will be alerted to burn activities ahead of time. When burning begins, information, photos, and maps will be available at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/.

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Today, fuel crews on the PRD are burning piles in Jeff Valley. Residents and visitors may see smoke from the 76, the 79 and surrounding communities. We ask the pubic not to call 911 if smoke is seen in the area. 

This project funded in part by the President's Inflation Reduction Act which is a part of confronting the wildfire crisis.

Prescribed Fire is part of Confronting the Wildfire Crisis: https://fs.usda.gov/managing-land/wildfire-crisis. Prescribed fire plays an important role in forest health and in reducing extreme wildfires and their negative impact. These fires also help reduce heavy fuel loads while simultaneously opening the conifer forest structure and maintaining the health of meadow habitats. Fire is also used to enhance native plant communities and cultural landscapes and improve wildlife habitats. Another goal is to provide defensible space for communities and developed areas within and surrounding the CNF. With all fire comes smoke, and the U.S. Forest Service works to mitigate smoke impacts from prescribed fires on the communities in the area.

Today, fuel crews on the DRD are burning piles in the Mount Laguna area off Los Hurcos Rd. Residents and visitors may see smoke from Sunrise Hwy, the I-8 and surrounding communities. We ask the pubic not to call 911 if smoke is seen in the area. 

This project funded in part by the President's Inflation Reduction Act which is a part of confronting the wildfire crisis.

Prescribed Fire is part of Confronting the Wildfire Crisis: https://fs.usda.gov/managing-land/wildfire-crisis. Prescribed fire plays an important role in forest health and in reducing extreme wildfires and their negative impact. These fires also help reduce heavy fuel loads while simultaneously opening the conifer forest structure and maintaining the health of meadow habitats. Fire is also used to enhance native plant communities and cultural landscapes and improve wildlife habitats. Another goal is to provide defensible space for communities and developed areas within and surrounding the CNF. With all fire comes smoke, and the U.S. Forest Service works to mitigate smoke impacts from prescribed fires on the communities in the area. 

Firefighters at the Yellow Jacket/McElmo area were able to burn 35-acres of hand piles today on BLM lands within Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. Piles contained tamarisk and Russian olive from a previous invasive species removal project. Expect some light visible smoke in the area as vegetation in the interior continue to smolder and go out. 

For more information on smoke, visit https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health

For information on prescribed burns, visit the Southwest District BLM Prescribed Fire InciWeb page https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7852/ or follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/SWD_Fire and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BLMMontroseFireUnit