The Tally Lake Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest is planning to conduct multiple spring prescribed fire projects, when weather, fuel conditions, and air quality become favorable.

Smoke will be visible from various places in the Flathead depending on the location of the burn units and weather conditions.

Each project follows a prescribed fire burn plan. The prescribed fire projects are located and designed to be controlled to reduce the potential for adverse effects, or to escape as a wildland fire.

These projects will be in compliance with Montana air quality standards and coordinated with the Montana State Department of Environmental Quality to reduce the impacts of smoke to neighbors, cooperators, and surrounding communities.

Prescribed fire is used throughout the forest to meet various management objectives, including returning fire to the ecosystem, maintaining or restoring plant communities, reducing or removing exotic plants, maintaining or improving wildlife habitat, reducing hazardous fuel accumulations and reducing fire suppression costs.

The project areas include:

• Bill Creek Area: Up to three acres will be treated this spring to reduce hazardous fuel accumulation and maintain the presence of fire in the ecosystem. Smoke may be visible from various locations in the Flathead Valley.

• Bootjack Lake Area/Farm to Market Road Area/Ashley Lake Area: Burning may start as soon as weather conditions are right and continue through June. These prescribed burns consist of hand piles that were created during a fuels reduction project. A total of 25 acres are planned for this spring. Burning will be weather dependent and ignition will only occur on days with a good smoke dispersion forecast.

For additional information about these projects contact the District Fire Management Officer, Jim Reuter at 758-3522.