Federal land managers are planning controlled burns in the Bitterroot and Blackfoot Valleys.
The Bitterroot National Forest is planning to start prescribed burning projects as early as this week, depending on weather. Fire managers plan to burn 2,200 acres this fall.
Fire danger on the forest remains “high,” and the Forest says burns will only take place under safe weather conditions.
Burning 1,000 acres is planned in the Darby/Sula Ranger District. Another 1,000 is planned in the West Fork Ranger District, and burning 200 acres is planned in the Stevensville Ranger District.
The burns will include piles of leftover slash from thinning and timber harvest operations and areas where the Forest wants to reduce fuels and restore the landscape to that of a fire-adapted ecosystem.
Smoke from the burns will likely be visible from West Fork Highway, East Fork Road and Highway 93.
In the Blackfoot Valley, the Bureau of Land Management is planning five controlled burns in the next two months. Four will take place about 5 miles southwest of Clearwater Junction and the other is 12 miles west of Lincoln. The BLM says the burns will happen when weather is favorable and may take up to 14 days to complete.
For the latest burn announcements, burn updates, maps and photos of project areas visit www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot, www.facebook.com/DiscoverBitterrootNF and www.twitter.com/BitterrootNF