Bitterroot National Forest to Start Spring Burning

When the spring weather arrives, the prescribed burning season for the Bitterroot National Forest also starts. Tod McKay of the forest said that about 3,400 acres are planned in the two-month burning season. The fires help to reduce the low forest fuels and improve wildlife habitat. The fires will be in all three of the ranger districts and are dependent on the proper weather conditions. Smoke from the fires will be visible from the major highways.

Here's the plan: Darby/Sula Ranger District - 2,050 acres - Waddell Units south of Lake Como; Como/Horse Lick between Lake Como and Lost Horse; Trapper Bunkhouse southwest of Darby between Little Tin Cup and McCoy Creeks; Cameron Blue and Middle East Fork between Guide Creek and Tolan Ridge along East Fork Road. West Fork Ranger District - Lower West Fork Unit South of Trapper Creek and north of Lloyd Creek; School Point Ecoburn units west of Ward Creek and east of Halford Creek; Soda Springs Ecoburn east of Little West Fork and west of Halford Creek at Road 5633b; West Fork Horse Pasture north of the Nez Perce and West Fork confluence at the Lone Pine Helibase. Stevensville Ranger District - Larry Bass Units in the Bass Creek Recreation Area; Sweeney Creek Units west of Florence. Forest personnel will try to minimize the smoke impacts from the prescribed fires. The burns will be in April and May.