Ranger district sets fall burning

PRIEST LAKE - The Priest Lake Ranger District is planning several prescribed burns throughout the district this fall.

Burning will take place once significant precipitation falls and will continue through early December as weather allows. The objectives of the burn activities include reducing hazardous fuels, reducing impacts of wildfires, preparing areas for tree planting, and improving forage for wildlife.

District Ranger Richard Kramer, said the burning is part of the district's annual program of work.

"Burning will begin with broadcast underburning this fall and transition to burning of piles later in the fall once more precipitation has fallen," Kramer said. "Fire managers will continuously monitoring the weather and fuel conditions, and burn only when conditions are favorable."

Burning will take place in several areas including the following:

1. Priest River Experimental Forest, about 12 miles northeast of Priest River;

2. Gleason Pine area, near the Gleason Boswell Road;

3. 57 Bearpaws area, located adjacent to Highway 57 from milepost 9 to milepost 14;

4. High Bridge Outlet area, located along Highway 57 from about milepost 16 to milepost 24;

5. Johnson road area, in the vicinity of the Lower West Branch, and;

6. Lakeface-Lamb area, along the Luby Bay Road, near Hill's Resort

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests is a member of the Montana/Idaho Airshed Group, which regulates how much burning can take place based on predicted smoke emissions and expected smoke dispersion.

The accumulation of smoke from prescribed burning is limited through scientific monitoring of weather conditions and the formal coordination of burns. Burns are conducted only when the forecasts and burn plans will comply with federal and state air quality regulations and agency policies.