The Bitterroot National Forest is planning, weather permitting, to carry out fall prescribed burning beginning as early as Monday afternoon.

The burns will be mostly pile burning associated with reducing residual slash created by personal use firewood cutting and timber salvage projects.  Smoke from some of the fires may be visible later this week in the valley.

Before a decision is made to ignite a prescribed fire, managers must confirm that weather and burning conditions meet specified criteria.  Just as private landowners need to check with authorities prior to burning, so must the Forest Service.  We submit burn requests by noon the day before wanting to burn to the MT/ID Smoke Management Unit in Missoula.  Airshed Coordinators review all requests and look at weather forecasts and dispersion (wind) forecasts to make their decision on which burns get approved and which don’t.  Residents can view information about forecasts for burning at the smoke management website.

Bitterroot National Forest spokesman Tod McKay

 

 

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