Spring prescribed burns planned in North Idaho

COEUR d’ALENE — Beginning this month and continuing through June, firefighters from the U.S. Wildland Fire Service will conduct a series of prescribed burns on BLM-managed public lands across North Idaho. 

These prescribed burns aim to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations from previous timber harvest activities, enhance landscape resiliency, protect wildlife habitats, and improve firefighter and public safety by reducing wildfire risks, a press release said. Burn activities, listed below, will proceed as weather, staffing, and on-ground conditions allow. Acreages are approximate. 

Coeur d’Alene District Prescribed Burns

Coeur d'Alene Field Office

• Lynch Gulch – Understory burning (185 Acres) — Pinehurst. Smoke will be highly visible from Interstate 90.

• St. Joe Brush Field Burning (400 Acres) — Pinehurst.

• Cottonwood Field Office

• Meadows View — Post-timber harvest understory burning (36 Acres) — New Meadows. Smoke will be highly visible from U.S. 95.

• Too Smokey - Post-timber harvest understory burning (30 Acres) – New Meadows

Each prescribed burn operation is expected to last one to two days, with personnel and equipment patrolling and monitoring areas for another three to five days, a press release said. Temporary road closures may be implemented during firing operations for public and firefighter safety, the release said.