Prescribed burns planned along Montana 200
The Kootenai National Forest is planning to conduct fall prescribed fire projects along Montana 200 when weather, fuel conditions and air quality become favorable.
According to the Forest Service, all projects follow a prescribed fire burn plan and are located and designed to be controlled to reduce the potential for adverse effects. Prescribed fire is an essential tool for promoting resilient fire-adapted landscapes and mitigating wildfire risk across forests.
During prescribed fire operations, smoke may be visible from various places across the forest depending on the location of the burn units and weather conditions.
Commuters are advised to slow down as smoke may impact nearby roads. Firefighters and equipment may be on or near these roads during implementation.
There is the potential that residual smoke may be visible for several days after initial ignition. These projects will comply with Montana air quality standards and guided by the Montana/Idaho State Airshed Group to reduce the impacts of smoke to our neighbors, cooperators, and surrounding communities. Air quality is an important value that is considered by land and fire managers during every phase of prescribed fire, from planning and mitigation to day-of implementation.
The following release includes the summary of planned prescribed fire operations across the forest for the fall of 2024. View the map of planned prescribed fire operations here. Site specific notifications and updates will be posted closer to actual dates of ignition.
Cabinet Ranger District:
Dry Creek Project - This project includes burning piles near Bull River and South Fork Dry Creek area. These treatments will use prescribed fire to increase resilience to insects and diseases, reduce hazardous fuels within the wildland urban interface, and improve big game forage.
Elk Creek Wildlife Project and Elk Rice Timber Sale - These projects include pile burning timber harvest units located within the Elk Creek drainage south of Heron. These treatments will use prescribed fire to create landscapes that are resilient to disturbance, improve wildlife habitat, and reduce hazardous fuels within the wildland urban interface.
Helwick Project - This project includes broadcast burning timber harvest units located within the Big Beaver Creek drainage south of Trout Creek. These treatments will use prescribed fire to increase resilience to insects and diseases, reduce hazardous fuels within the wildland urban interface, and improve big game forage.
Purple Marten Project - This project includes pile burning timber harvest units in the Marten Creek drainage northwest of Trout Creek. These treatments will use prescribed fire to increase forage for big game species and reduce hazardous fuels.
Springboard Project - This project includes pile burning timber harvest units located across from the Cabinet Ranger District Office northwest of Trout Creek. These treatments will use prescribed fire to increase resilience to insects and diseases, reduce hazardous fuels within the wildland urban interface, and improve big game forage.