BLM and USWFS to Remove Brush to Reduce Wildland Fire Threat and Restore Public Land in the Shepherd Ah Nei and Acton Recreation Areas
BILLINGS, Mont. —The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Wildland Fire Service will begin cutting down hazard trees, clearing brush, and creating burn piles throughout the Northern Rockies Geographic Area as weather, and ground conditions allow. Operations will continue throughout the fall and winter. These treatments are carefully planned to remove hazardous fuels, reduce the risk to nearby communities, and restore native ecosystems.
In early November – weather dependent – crews will begin gathering fuels that could feed catastrophic wildland fire in the highly visited Shepherd Ah Nei and Acton Recreation Areas near Billings. Certain closures will be associated with the project, which is estimated to be ongoing for three months. Piles created this year will be burned in future years.
“Our goals are to reduce wildfire risk and improve firefighter safety and defensible space near private land and infrastructure, as well as forest health, cattle forage, and wildlife habitat,” said BLM Billings Field Manager Nate Arave. “We carefully plan and execute these burns with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service to help reduce the risk for communities and strengthen the health of our public lands.”
What the public should know
Acton Recreation Area:
Certain trails and campsites will be closed on a rolling basis, while work is being done for the safety of visitors and crews.
Recreationists are encouraged to read sign boards and be observant of work areas along the trails. Please use caution when encountering crews and heavy equipment.
Closure notices will be posted at the recreation kiosk and on the Bureau of Land Management-Montana/Dakotas Facebook page and website.
Shepherd Ah Nei Recreation Area:
Burn piles are planned for areas outside of the high-traffic OHV trails.
“Fuels management is an important part of actively managing our public lands to reduce wildfire risk and build more resilient landscapes,” said U.S. Wildland Fire Service Northern Rockies Geographic Area Chief Aaron Thompson. “This work demonstrates the strength of the partnership between the BLM and the U.S. Wildland Fire Service—bringing land management and wildland fire expertise together to accomplish meaningful work on the ground. By working proactively, we can reduce risk to communities, improve conditions for firefighters, and help sustain healthy, resilient public lands for the future.”
Removing hazardous fuels and doing prescribed burns decrease fire risk for the wildland-urban interface and restore the natural balance to the landscape. Targeting built-up fuels and brush from previous thinning operations decreases the load of dead trees, branches, and underbrush that pose significant wildfire risks.
For more information, contact the BLM Billings Field Office or the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Geographic Area.
The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.