St. Joe Divide Prescribed Fire to be conducted south of Pinehurst, Idaho

Idaho

Media Contact

Michael Traver-Greene
208-769-5033

United States

Project Overview
The project area is located south of Pinehurst, Idaho on BLM-managed public land within the jurisdiction of the BLM Coeur d’Alene District. The St. Joe Divide Prescribed Fire has multiple units within the project area. Depending on environmental conditions, these units could require treatment at different times throughout the duration of the project. The project’s primary focus is to aid the landscape in maintaining natural processes, patterns, and to increase its resilience to disturbances. The treatment is intended to create a mosaic of mixed shrubs, trees, and other vegetation, which is generally a result of natural wildfire and promotes forest health.

Primary Objectives

  • Fire is a necessary tool to help regenerate the landscape and ecosystem
  • Reduce the availability of fuels, such as dry grass, brush and tree limbs that can feed catastrophic wildland fire occurring in the project area
  • Enhance large ungulate wildlife habitat

Implementation
Coeur d’Alene Field Office fire crew plan to burn up to 700 acres beginning spring 2024 (April) and possibly in the fall 2024, if the desired weather, soil moisture, and smoke dispersal conditions are met. Smoke may be visible in the area for several days after the burning phase of the prescribed fire is completed. The BLM will monitor the fires until they are completely out. Ignition of the prescribed fires will cease if there is a change in burning conditions and management objectives are not being met. The units will be ignited by helicopter resources.
You are responsible for understanding your location relative to the project area. Trails and burn areas may be temporarily closed to the public to ensure safety. Areas will be surveyed prior to ignition as an attempt to ensure that no public are present. Please avoid burn areas due to hazardous conditions such as rapid and unpredictable flame spread, falling snags and trees, heavy smoke, limited visibility, and rolling rocks and logs.


More Information
Online: https://bit.ly/NorthIdahoRxFire or call the Idaho Panhandle National Forest (IPNF) Fire Info Line 208-557-8813.

Person holding a drip torch on a prescribed fire.
Fire crews will use drip torches, like this one, to start the prescribed burn. Fire engines and crews will be on hand to manage the burn. (BLM photo)