KALISPELL — The Flathead National Forest is planning spring prescribed fire projects when weather and air quality are best.
Smoke will be seen various places in the Flathead Valley depending on burn locations and weather conditions.
The Forest follows a plan for each project to reduce the potential for an escaped wildland fire or other adverse effects like excessive smoke.
Fire managers time the projects to comply with air quality standards and state and local regulations to reduce smoke impacts in surrounding communities.
This spring’s project areas include Huey Timber Sale, Louie Timber sale, How Now Timber Sale, Swan Valley Bottom Maintenance Burning, and Swan Lake Ranger Station.
The purposes for these prescribed burns are to reduce fuels, improve large ungulate winter range, regenerate vegetation and improve wildlife habitat.
In the Hungry Horse District there will be burning a 20-acre Forest Service administrative site, Coram Pasture. Near Martin City, this site is used for pasturing agency livestock.
The fires are meant to reduce encroaching brush and saplings and improve range conditions.
In the Spotted Bear Ranger District they plan to burn 41 acres around Spotted Bear Ranger Station to reduce fuels, improve winter range forage, reduce conifer encroachment, reintroduce fire into the ecosystem, and retain key thermal cover timber patches.
For more information about these projects contact the appropriate ranger station:
- Hungry Horse/Glacier View Ranger District: 406-387-3800
- Tally Lake Ranger District: 406-758-5204
- Swan Lake Ranger District: 406-837-7500
- Spotted Bear Ranger District: 406-758-5376
