USWFS fuels team begins prescribed burn project in Missouri Breaks Back Country Byway
WISTOWN, Mont. – Starting today, firefighters from the U.S. Wildland Fire Service will implement a Bureau of Land Management-planned prescribed burn in the Missouri Breaks Back Country Byway area, west of U.S. Highway 191 near the Missouri River.
Two Calf Unit A is a 2,210-acre unit within the BLM’s Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument that includes private and BLM administered lands. This unit is comprised of mixed conifer, including Douglas-fir, Rocky Mountain juniper, and ponderosa pine. Two Calf Unit A is located within middle Two Calf drainage, just north of Knox Ridge Road, approximately 21 miles east of Winifred, Montana.
The prescribed burn objectives are to reintroduce fire to the landscape, enhance the vegetation condition class, reduce ladder fuels and stand density, and promote the regrowth and regeneration of deciduous shrubs, which results in improved habitat for multiple wildlife species.
Ignition operations may continue through Thursday evening, April 9. Smoke may linger for weeks following the completion of the burn and may be visible from nearby roads and communities. Patrols of the area will occur until the burn is declared out.
The USWFS 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.
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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.