Prescribed burning to begin around Seeley

SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Ranger District is planning to conduct spring prescribed fire projects, when weather, fuel conditions, and air quality become favorable. Smoke will be visible from various places on the District depending on the location of the burn units and weather conditions. Burns could start as early as later this week.

Each project follows a Prescribed Fire Burn Plan. The prescribed fire projects are located and designed to be controlled to reduce the potential for adverse effects and escape as a wildland fire. These projects will be in compliance with Montana air quality standards and coordinated with Montana State Department of Environmental Quality to reduce the impacts of smoke to neighbors, cooperators and surrounding communities.

“I do understand the sensitivity to fire for the local communities,” said District Acting Ranger Quinn Carver. “I’m acutely aware of the smoke [he was with the incident command team on the Rice Ridge Fire for a month] and I heard the U of M give their [talk] on things. We are thinking about it, we are aware of it, we are trying to give people enough notice ahead of time. But the work is important to do and we need to move forward with it.”

There are several prescribed fires planned this year:

• Horseshoe West – Units along the highway and between Double Arrow and Kozy Korner likely this spring. Objectives are winter range for elk and fuels related.

• Colt Summit – Units on the far north of the District. Likely will be this fall and the objective is fuels related

• Swan Face – Large Natural Fuels project, several thousands of acres. This landscape burn will happen in the fall.

For more information contact the District, 677-2233. For more information about smoke impacts and how to mitigate risks visit https://www.montanawildfiresmoke.org/

 

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