Sunrise Fire, West Fork Fish Creek Fire reforestation project begins

Just a stone’s throw from Alberton in 2015, the West Fork Fish Creek Fire burned through 11,845 acres of local recreational wilderness, causing extensive damage to both the forests and infrastructure within the area. This year, local residents have watched as 26,310 acres burned in the Quartz Creek area in the Sunrise Fire.

Working with the U.S. Forest Service employees from both the Superior Ranger Station and the Ninemile Ranger Station, the Alberton Railroad Days Foundation is raising money to help reforest some of these areas. With a goal set to raise enough money by the end of November to purchase 30,000 trees, this will help to reforest an area of roughly 200 acres.

This project also opens up an opportunity for any community member that wishes to participate, as well as local homeschool students or after-school programs. Once the trees are ordered in December, they are grown for two years at the Forest Service Nursery in Coeur d’Alene before being shipped to the districts in 2020. The Ninemile and Superior Ranger Districts are enthusiastic about the community interest in the reforestation efforts and are looking at opportunities in the coming two years to keep people involved as they wait for the seedlings to grow. This may open up chances to teach conservation classes and work with youth and the community as they prepare the planting sites and assess further needs within the fire.

Working together as a community — not just Alberton, but Superior, Tarkio and the surrounding areas as well — so much can be accomplished to keep forests healthy.

To donate or for more information about how to join in the efforts to help the Forest Service and the forests in the area, visit the Alberton Railroad Days Foundation website at https://www.albertonrailroadday.com/ and follow the links to the community projects section.