“Prescribed Burning” Planned on Priest Lake, Sandpoint & Bonners Ferry

Release Date: Sep 18, 2013

Contact(s): Matt Butler

The Priest Lake, Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry Ranger Districts are planning several prescribed burns this fall to reduce potential wildfire impacts, prepare areas for tree planting and improve wildlife forage. Prescribed burning is part of each District’s annual natural resource management program and may continue through November, depending upon weather and forest conditions. Fire managers will monitor weather and fuels on a daily basis to ascertain when burning can be safely conducted to achieve desired forest management and smoke management goals.  Prescribed fires are planned for the following areas during the fall of 2013:

 

Sandpoint Ranger District

• Underburning of Logging slash and piles in the following project areas:
  • South Grouse Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project (Grouse Mountain 4 miles east of Sagle)
  • Wrenco Timber Sale area (6 miles north of Laclede)
  • West Gold Restoration Project Area (Approximately 2 miles southwest of Lakeview)
  • Tumbledown Hazardous Fuels reduction (From Graham Point to Whiskey Rock)

Bonners Ferry Ranger District

• Burning of excavator piles for site-preparation and to reduce fuels in the following project areas:
  • Northern Prairie (Hwy 95 near Round Prairie, 18 miles north of Bonners Ferry)
  • Borderline Stew (20 miles north of Bonners Ferry, vicinity of Hall Mountain)
  • Twin Skin (5 miles northeast of Moyie Springs along the Deer Creek road)
  • Clear Black (Twenty Mile road up to Black Mountain, east of Naples)
  • Templemental and East Fork Stew (Camp Nine area north of Bonners Ferry)
  • Snow Way (Snow Creek drainage – Forest Road #2109).
• Underburning of logging slash and natural fuels in the following project areas:
  • Stampede (south of Naples, near Stampede Lake and the Stampede Off-Road Vehicle Area)
  • Blazing Saddle (25 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry, between Saddle Creek and Shorty Creek)

Priest Lake Ranger District

• Watson Mountain natural fuels burning to reduce fuels and provide forage for big game.
• Two units located approximately 3 miles North of Nordman on Forest Road #1347
• Burning of excavator piles for site-preparation and to reduce fuels in the following project areas:
• HBO (Along Highway 57 from the Dickensheet Jct. to Outlet Dam)
• Lakeview Timber Sale (1/2 mile South of Nordman on Forest Road #1356, and near Elkins Resort)
• Nickleplate Timber Sale ( 1/2 mile West of Nordman)
• Along Forest Roads #334, #239 and #416

 

As a member of the Montana/Idaho Airshed Group, the Idaho Panhandle National Forests adheres to recommendations to burn for each individual day based on predicted smoke emissions and expected smoke dispersion. Accumulations of smoke from prescribed burning are limited through scientific monitoring of weather conditions and the formal coordination of burns. Burns are conducted only when forecasts and burn plans comply with federal and state air quality regulations and agency policies.  Additional information on air quality and smoke management can be found on the Montana/Idaho Airshed Group’s website at:  http://www.smokemu.org/index.php.  For a full listing of potential prescribed fire sites, including maps, please visit the IPNF Prescribed Fire web pageor www.northidahorxfire.comand you can also call 1-800-CDA-FIRE for burning updates.

As a reminder, all who burn from May 10 through October 20 are required to obtain an Idaho State Burn Permit (no charge) and adhere to all requirements listed on the permit as required by State law. More information is available through the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality at   http://www.deq.idaho.gov/air/prog_issues/burning/open_burning_overview.cfm