Planned burning begins

With summer over, fall prescribed burning will begin as soon as treatment areas are ready.

Prescribed burning is planned throughout the District in the following areas:  Deborgia, Rock Creek:  Knox Brooks (50 acres) and Knoxious Salvage (10 acres); St. Regis, Two Mile: Reset Timber Sale (20 acres); Little Joe Darkside (300 acres.) Superior, Pardee and Keypole (30 acres).

The majority of prescribed burning will occur in timber sale units and will consist of machine piles in harvest units or the harvest units themselves. Smoke will be visible during burning and potentially a few days afterwards.

All prescribed burns in the Superior District must comply with air quality regulations, guided and monitored by the Montana/Idaho State Airshed Group. Burns will occur when air dispersion and weather forecasts are favorable. The Superior Ranger District understands that smoky conditions can be unpleasant and they will strive to mitigate the smoke effects and reduce the impacts to the public. They appreciate the community for being supportive of our fuels program and we value your continued support.

Please be careful when traveling through smoky areas in vehicles. Please slow down as people and equipment may be present in the smoke.

In addition, homeowners in Mineral County that would like to resume their fall pile burning may do so after obtaining a burn permit from the Ranger Station or by calling the Fire Information Hotline at 406-822-3933. Only small manageable piles will be allowed at this time.  All large piles/slash piles will have to wait until Oct. 1, when open burning begins.

The following safety factors should be considered when burning: burn in small piles so the fire will be hot but manageable; wait until it rains or snows; wet the area down around the piles; clear the area around the pile of dry flammable material and have bare soil within several feet; build the piles in openings away from overhead branches, wires and structures; keep water and tools close by, be ready in case of unexpected changes in the fire; check the weather forecast for unexpected changes; don’t burn when windy and check the air quality hotline at 1-800-225-6779 for restrictions in your air shed (air shed #2 is west of Superior and air shed #3A is east of Superior).

Burning is only one way to dispose of your debris and reduce fuels. Please consider recycling paper and cardboard and composting needles, small limbs and grass clippings. Doing so is safer and more considerate of neighbors. Burn only natural vegetation and woody materials. State law prohibits the burning of animal droppings, garbage, dead animals, tires, oil or any other toxic material.

For more information on the burning program or burn permit requirements, Superior Ranger Station 406-822-4233.  

-Courtesy of the Superior Ranger District