U.S. Forest Service

Missoula has seen the untimely deaths of two wildland firefighters in just the past two weeks, and when a member of that Forest Service family falls in the line of duty, the U.S. Forest Service Honor Guard steps up to serve.

The Missoula County Sheriff and Coroner TJ McDermott is releasing the name of the firefighter who died Wednesday afternoon working on the Lolo Peak Fire as Brent M. Witham, 29, of Mentone, California.

Leigh Golding, information officer with the Lolo Peak Fire, reported at about 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday that a firefighter had been injured while working on the fire.

The National Museum of Forest Service History will open its doors on Thursday at 10:00 a.m.in Missoula at its new home a mile west of the airport on U.S. Highway 10 West.

Montana Senator Steve Daines challenged the head of the U.S. Forest Service, Tom Tidwell this week to reverse a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision that negatively impacts forest health, recreation and wildlife habitat.

Late last week, Lolo National Forest Fire Management Officer Laura Ward was named the National Forest Service Fire Management Officer of the Year.

After 28 years, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation recently topped one million acres in lifetime projects that created, maintained or improved access to public land.

On Wednesday, National Bioenergy Day, part of National Forest Products Week, is the time the U.S. Forest Service is emphasizing the importance of wood energy to Montana and to the entire country.

Those of you who have driven Highway 12 and the Idaho panhandle are probably familiar with Kamiah, Idaho.