Burn plan outlined

Officials on the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District have announced that they will initiate the 2011 spring burning program when the prescribed burning conditions are met in the coming weeks, and would like to inform the public as to where these burns will occur.

Planned prescribed burn units are a combination of those created by harvest activities and others designed for ecosystem benefit. The treating of fuels created by harvest is mandated by law and fire is the primary tool used to treat slash and to prepare sites for tree planting and/or natural regeneration. Prescribed fire for ecosystem benefit is used to treat hazardous fuels, to increase forage for big game species and to restore the fire process on the landscape.

Planned burns for the Plains/Thompson Falls RD this spring could cover up to approximately 4,800 acres if prescribed burning conditions are met and resources for burning are available.

Prescribed burning is tentatively planned for the following areas (parentheses indicate broader area descriptions):

• Knox Creek (Dry Creek area)

• Gold Rush (Dry Creek area)

•  Fishtrap Creek (Thompson River)

•Shorty Gulch (Prospect Creek)

• Graves Creek (Cougar Peak area)

• Tabletop Mountain (Prospect Creek)

• Camp Creek (Cherry Creek)

• Tepee Creek (Weeksville Creek)

• Cabin Creek (Little Thompson River)

Prescribed burning of timber sale units on Tabletop Mountain, in Camp Creek, Cherry Creek and Weeksville Creek will require underburning of previously harvested areas. The remainder of the areas listed have prescribed burn plans intended for ecosystem benefit as described above.

Ignition of these areas will be accomplished either by hand crews or by helicopter firing. Smoke will be visible during burning and potentially for a few days afterwards.

All proposed prescribed burning activities must comply with air quality regulations as outlined and administered by the Montana/Idaho Airshed Group. Burns will occur when air dispersion patterns and weather forecasts are favorable, but smoky conditions can still potentially develop. Recognizing this negative impact, managers will attempt to minimize smoke effects and reduce the impact to the public.

The public is urged to avoid project burn areas during operations. If the public is impacted by smoky conditions while driving through these areas, please slow down and be careful when traveling through, people and equipment may be present.

Public open burning began March 1 and burn permits are not required until May 1.

For additional information on the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District burning plan or for more information on the burn permit program for this area, please contact John Hamilton at 406-826-4345, or the Plains/Thompson Falls district office at 406-826-3821.