IPNF prescribed burns to begin
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April 11, 2014 |
The Idaho Panhandle National Forest plans to
initiate their annual prescribed fire program
starting today and continue into the following
weeks.
Prescribed burning is used to reduce dead and
down fuels, selectively thin understory trees in
dense forested stands, stimulate fire resistant
plant species, enhance forage and browse, reduce
the risk of large stand-replacement fires, and
restore fire under controlled conditions as a
disturbance factor in these landscapes.
Prescribed fire managers are planning to
implement hazardous fuel reduction burns
throughout the spring season, weather and
conditions permitting, at the following project
sites:
Bonners Ferry Ranger District
* Stampede (200 acres): Near Stampede Lake and the community of
Naples
* Twin Skin (50 acres): Approximately 10 miles northeast of Moyie
Springs in the vicinity of Salomon Lake
* Snow Way (320 acres): Approximately six miles southwest of
Bonners Ferry in the Snow Creek drainage
* Blazing Saddle (90 acres): Approximately 11 miles west of
Porthill in the Saddle Creek drainage
* Idaho Buckhorn Habitat Burn (450 acres): Approximately seven
miles north of Moyie Springs in the Deer Creek
drainage north of Keno Creek and east of
Buckhorn Ridge. Aerial ignition will be used to
ignite the burn units.
Sandpoint Ranger District
* South Grouse (250 acres): On Grouse Mountain, approximately four
miles east of Sagle
* West Gold (75 acres): Approximately two miles southwest of
Lakeview
Prospect (100 acres) and Gold Pond (30 acres):
Approximately four miles south of Bayview
Priest Lake Ranger District
* Lakeview/Reeder (520 acres): Brush field burning on the east side
of Lakeview Mtn. (near Elkins Resort)
Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District
* Deerfoot Project Area (800 acres): East and northeast of Hayden
Lake within the Nilson, Two Forks, Three Forks,
Jim Creek and Yellowbanks Creek drainages
* Blue Alder Project Area (700 acres): In the Blue Alder project
area near Fourth of July Pass and within the
Blue Creek and Alder Creek drainages
* Prichard-Murray Project Area (1,000 acres): In the vicinity of
Prichard in the Clee Creek, Avery Creek, Hopkins
Creek and main Coeur d’Alene River drainages.
St. Joe Ranger District
* T-Bone Timber Sale (36 acres): Located approximately four miles
north of Clarkia in the Blair Creek drainage.
Hand ignition will be used to ignite the unit.
* Manhattan Timber Sale (89 acres): Located in the Kelly and
Manhattan Creek drainages approximately 11 miles
northeast of Avery. Road 3472 may be impacted.
* Quarreling Eagles Timber Sale (69 acres): Located in the Eagle
Creek drainage, approximately 13 miles northeast
of Avery. Roads 3444, 1214, and 1214D may be
impacted.
Actual acres within each project area may vary
dependent upon fuel conditions, smoke
dispersion, wind patterns, and other variables.
The exact timing for each planned burn is
unknown as prescribed burning is dependent on
weather conditions, fuel moisture and smoke
dispersion criteria.
Up to 12,000 acres of national forest system
lands in north Idaho could be burned this spring
and fall depending on conditions.
“Prescribed fire plays an important ecological
role in providing great benefits to forest
health,” said Forest Supervisor Mary Farnsworth.
“Prescribed burning will reduce wildfire risks
for local communities, while improving wildlife
habitat and restoring the forest’s resiliency to
threats such as uncharacteristic fires, insects
and disease.”
Active burning will occur for a period of two to
three days, with smoldering fire afterward until
rains extinguish the fires. Burn areas can pose
very hazardous conditions such as rapid and
unpredictable spreading of flames, falling
trees, heavy smoke and limited visibility, and
rolling rocks and logs.
Prescribed fire areas can be dangerous and
members of the public are urged to stay away
from these areas during burning operations and
for a few days afterward.
If you plan on recreating or hunting in these
project areas make sure you understand your
location relative to the burn units. If you find
yourself in an active burn area, you should
travel downslope or away from the predominant
path of flames, because fire typically burns
fastest upslope.
When burn dates or date ranges are forecasted,
signs will be posted along access roads and near
affected trailheads and trail junctions.
Temporary access restrictions or closures may be
utilized if deemed necessary for public safety.
Prescribed burns, especially those within areas
that contain a high volume of vegetation, often
produce large amounts of smoke. The Idaho
Panhandle National Forests is a member of the
Montana/Idaho Airshed Group, which monitors and
limits the accumulation of smoke from controlled
burns through scientific monitoring of weather
conditions and formal coordination of burns.
People with respiratory problems and those
sensitive to smoke may want to avoid these areas
during burning operations.
A complete list of planned prescribed fires
including contact information and planned fire
locations is available online at
http://www.northidahorxfire.com/ipnf/.
Prescribed fire information will also be
maintained on a prescribed fire hotline at
1-800-232-FIRE. |
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