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National Fire Plan Success Story

Forest Priorities for Hazardous Fuels Treatments
Lolo National Forest, Montana
National Fire Plan - Fuels Reduction
2009

The Lolo National Forest is located in the timbered valleys of western Montana. The Forest faces challenges burning in several, sensitive urban airsheds. Managing appropriately for clean air around the communities of Missoula, Seeley Lake, and Thompson Falls requires planning and good communication. The Forest has been able to implement a successful hazardous fuels program and over the past 10 years, have treated 88,094 acres by prescribed burning around the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). The acres treated by prescribed burning decrease the probability of large, high intensity fire by creating a jigsaw of burned and regenerating areas. The Forest program has made a significant contribution in abating the hazardous fuels immediately adjacent to extensive WUI areas identified collaboratively in County Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs). The 10 year treatment of 88,094 acres is equal in size to some of the larger wildfires on the Forest over the same time period, illustrating how important prescribed burning is to these western Montana communities.

The keys successful implementation of the Forest prescribed fire program are:

  • Communications and coordination with all stakeholders, and specifically regarding smoke management, the MT/ID Airshed Group and Missoula City/County Health Department.
  • Careful planning to take advantage of short-duration prescribed burning windows. As an example, the Missoula Ranger District often proposes burns on each side of the Missoula valley, so that if one burn location would bring smoke into Missoula, the other unit is available.
  • The use of all hazardous fuels reduction tools is always evaluated. Options such as mechanical thinning, chipping or biomass removal are considered and burning used where appropriate.
  • Prioritization of the urban areas most at risk from wildfire with cooperators ensured burning is conducted in those areas requiring immediate attention.

In addition to the successful Forest prescribed fire program, the Forest is developing opportunities to expand the management of wildfires for resource benefit in those areas where fire can have a positive effect. The combination of management of these fires and the prescribed fire program, will result in the regulation of future fires by past fires, indeed a success.

For further information, contact the Forest Fire Management Officer, Chuck Stanich, at (406) 329-1089.