Planned burns send up smoke

From the U.S. Forest Service

SEELEY LAKE -- If locals saw plumes of smoke rising from south of town last week, they needn’t worry.

Firefighters across the Lolo National Forest were scheduled to perform fall prescribed burning to reduce hazardous fuels, restore wildlife habitat, and better protect communities from future wildfires.

The burns were schedules to begin Oct. 3, as long as wind conditions were favorable.

Favorable conditions include correct parameters for temperature, wind, fuel moisture, and ventilation for smoke.

When prescription criteria is met, firefighters implement, monitor, a...