USWFS fuels team plans two prescribed burn projects in Valley County
GLASGOW, Mont. – This week, firefighters from the U.S. Wildland Fire Service plan to implement two Bureau of Land Management prescribed burns in Valley County, Montana.
Work could start as early as today, pending favorable on-site weather conditions.
The fuel team will first address the Hawk Coulee unit, 780 acres of BLM administered lands located about 12 miles northeast of Glasgow. Next, the team will move to the 550-acre Upper Tomato Can unit, located about 20 miles northwest of Opheim, Montana.
The primary goals of these prescribed fires are to reduce dead and decaying vegetation and improve overall vegetation condition class on the landscape.
Smoke may be visible from the communities of Glasgow, St. Marie, Opheim, and surrounding areas during ignitions. 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.