Forest Service to conduct prescribed burns

SANDERS COUNTY - The Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District plans to conduct several prescribed burns this spring on U.S. Forest Service lands in Sanders County. Depending on when burning prescription conditions are met, these burns could occur over the next several weeks.

District fuels management officials indicate that the prescribed burns are planned for project activity areas, and several other ecosystem maintenance or hazardous fuels reduction projects. All burns have been planned to meet silvicultural guidelines and the decision to burn or not will be based on fuel moisture levels and forecast weather conditions.

If the prescribed burning guidelines are met, burning will be done either by hand ignition or by helicopter firing, or by a combination of those methods over the course of the next several weeks. These burns could take place in the following areas:

• Swamp Creek (west of Plains)

• Finley Flats (west of Thompson Falls)

• Cutoff area (the Cascade Peninsula)

• Fishtrap Creek

• Deep Creek (Cougar Peak area)

• Dry Creek (including the Gold Rush and Knox Creek drainages)

• Cherry Creek

• Tepee Creek

• Shorty Gulch

• The Thompson Falls Administrative Site (north of Thompson Falls)

These planned burns are designed to reduce fuels created by forest health improvement activities and/or timber harvest. Ecosystem maintenance burning helps managers attain a variety of resource benefits through judicious use of fire. This type of burning rejuvenates winter range, reduces forest fuels and helps maintain traditionally open slopes.

In instances of timber harvest, prescribed fire is used to reduce fuel loadings generated by harvest activities and is required by law. In addition to reducing hazardous fuel loadings, this burning also prepares the site for natural regeneration of trees and/or tree planting.

Also planned for treatment are several smaller areas of concern, such as campgrounds or other dispersed sites, which may have materials hand-piled and burned as well.

For more information, call the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District office at 826-3821.