Five springtime prescribed fire projects planned for BLM North Central Montana District
LEWISTOWN, Mont. – U.S. Wildland Fire Service fuels-management program members supporting the Bureau of Land Management’s North Central Montana District plan to implement five prescribed fire burns this spring, when fuel conditions and weather permit safe operations.
Lewistown Field Office
The Tin Can Unit B prescribed fire area is located in eastern Petroleum County in the Musselshell Breaks, approximately 15 miles northeast of Winnett, Montana. This burn is multijurisdictional and includes 2,386 acres of BLM, state, and private lands. Implementation of this prescribed fire will likely occur between March and May. Tin Can Unit B was originally burned by the BLM in the spring of 2011. This prescribed fire re-entry fuels treatment will maintain and improve forest stand conditions and lower the risk of high-severity wildfire. Ignition is expected to last 1-2 days; smoke may be visible for several weeks within the project footprint.
Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument
The Two Calf Unit A prescribed fire area is located in northern Fergus County, 8 miles west of the James Kipp Recreation Area. The burn area is just north of Knox Ridge Road in the Middle Two Calf drainage. This burn is also multijurisdictional and includes BLM-administered lands and private lands. Implementation will likely occur between March and May. The purpose of this project is to reduce fuel loadings to improve forest health, resiliency, and diversity, while lowering the risk of high-severity wildfire. Ignition is expected to last 1-2 days; smoke may be visible from the unit for several weeks after ignition is complete.
Glasgow Field Office
The Hawk Coulee prescribed fire area is located in Valley County, about 13 miles north of Glasgow, Montana, on BLM-administered land. Burning operations in this 780-acre unit will likely occur between March and April.
The Upper Tomato Can prescribed fire area is also located in Valley County, approximately 19 miles west of Opheim, Montana. Work on this 550-acre unit this spring will likely occur between March and April.
The purpose of these two projects is to restore 1,330 acres of crested wheatgrass to native grass through prescribed burning, followed immediately by intensive grazing. These prescribed burns will help improve habitat for greater sage-grouse, migratory birds, grassland birds, pronghorn, and mule deer, as well as increase the vegetative biodiversity of the rangeland allotments. Each burn is expected to consist of one day of ignition, followed by several days of patrolling until deemed out by the prescribed fire burn boss.
Malta Field Office
The Whitewater Lake prescribed fire area is located in Phillips County, 35 miles north of Malta, Montana, on BLM and state-administered land. Active burning in this 286-acre unit will likely occur between March and April. The purpose of this burn is to provide better cover and nesting habitat for waterfowl and migratory birds. Ignition should be completed in one day.
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service works to reduce future catastrophic wildfires and reduce the risk fire poses to communities and landscapes by strategically reducing excess vegetation, cultivating healthy fire cycles, and empowering local communities to reduce their wildfire risk. Learn more about USWFS fuels-management goals on the Department of the Interior website.
-BLM-
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.