Prescribed fire program under way

SANDPOINT — The U.S. Forest Service is conducting prescribed fire operations in a number of areas in the northern Panhandle.

The operations are meant to reduce dead and down fuels and to selectively thin understory trees in dense forested stands.

The following projects are under way in the Sandpoint Ranger District:

• South Grouse Mountain — 18 acres about four miles west of Sagle

• Wrenco Sale Area — 20 acres six miles north of Laclede

• West Gold — 75 acres about two miles southwest of Lakeview

• Prospect/Gold Pond sale areas — 56 acres and 20 acres, respectively, about four miles south of Bayview

Operations in the Priest Lake Ranger District include:

• Lakeview/Reeder — 520 acres on the east side of Lakeview Mountain (near Elkins Resort)

Prescribed fire operations are also ongoing in the following areas of the Bonners Ferry Ranger District:

• Stampede Sale Area — 200 acres near Stampede Lake and the community of Naples

• Borderline Stew Sale area — 30 acres approximately 20 miles north of Bonners Ferry

• Ruby Copper Sale Area — 20 acres about 31 miles north of Bonners Ferry

Along with reducing fuel loads, the projects stimulate fire-resistant plant species and enhance forage. They also reduce the risk of large stand-replacement fires.