Cabinet Ranger District Prescribed Fire Program Begins
By Moosetrack Megan

Posted: April 8, 2019

Trout Creek, Mont. April 5, 2019 – The Cabinet Ranger District would like the public to be aware that we are beginning the spring prescribed burning program. Prescribed fire is an effective tool for a variety of natural resource management purposes. It is used in timber harvest units to treat slash created by harvest activities and to prepare sites for planting or natural regeneration. Prescribed fire is also used to treat hazardous fuels, to increase forage for big game and to restore the fire process on the landscape.

Prescribed burning is planned throughout the District in the following areas:

  • Spring Gulch
  • Big Beaver Creek
  • Huckleberry Mtn.
  • White Pine Creek

The prescribed burning that is planned for timber sale units in Huckleberry Mtn. and Big Beaver Creek will consist of underburning.

The areas in Spring Gulch and White Pine Creek are being treated with prescribed fire to reduce hazardous fuels and improve wildlife habitat. These areas will be ignited by both aerial and hand devices via helicopter.

Smoke will be visible during burning and potentially a few days afterwards. All prescribed burns on the Cabinet District must comply with air quality regulations, guided and monitored by the Montana/Idaho State Airshed Group. Burns will occur when air dispersion and weather forecasts are favorable. We understand that smoky conditions can be unpleasant, so we will strive to minimize the smoke effects and reduce the impacts to the public. We appreciate the community for its support of our fuels program and we value your continued support. Please be careful when traveling through smoky areas in your vehicles. Please slow down, people and equipment may be present in the smoke.

The above activities could occur anytime between April 15 through June 30, depending on the weather.

Public open burning began March 1. Permits are required to burn May 1.

Please call the smoke hotline at 1-800-225-6779 for dispersion forecasts.

For more information on the burning program or burn permit requirements, please contact Matt Martens, Asst. Fire Management Officer at 406-827-0705, or the Cabinet District Office at 406-827-3533.

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