Forest eyes changes in fire policy
A wildland "fire use" policy that has been mostly applied to wilderness areas is being considered for other parts of the Flathead National Forest.
The proposal came up a year ago, but forest officials are seeking public comments on a proposal for allowing some naturally caused fires, in some circumstances, to burn outside the wilderness.
The approach was put to work in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in the 1980s as a means of restoring a natural process to a landscape that has evolved with fire for centuries. It has since been applied successfully, in most cases, on thousands of acres in the wilderness complex.
Fire use was expanded last year to specific "suitable areas" along Hungry Horse Reservoir. Now forest officials are considering specific areas north of Columbia
Falls, the west face of the Swan Range south of Bigfork and in the Mission Mountain Wilderness.
As applied in the wilderness, the policy is driven by a variety of constraints that determine if fires will be suppressed.
Weather, fuel conditions, topography and natural barriers on the landscape, such as rocky ridges, come into play to determine the potential for fire growth. Other factors are considered, such as the extent of other fires in a region and the demand on available firefighting resources.
"Fire is a valuable tool for land managers," said Swan Lake District Ranger Steve Brady. "Decisions to use naturally ignited fire as a tool for resource management objectives are made incident by incident, and only under certain conditions."
"Not all fires started by lightning will be managed as wildland fire use," added Jimmy DeHerrera, the Hungry Horse-Glacier View district ranger. "But when fire can benefit the forest and wildlife, and there are no values at risk, we will consider utilizing fire use."
The forest's policy and its application for certain areas in the North Fork Flathead drainage will be discussed at an open house Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. at Sondreson Hall north of Polebridge.
The Swan Lake District will host two open houses to discuss fire use along the Swan Range and within the Mission Mountains Wilderness: June 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Condon Community Center and June 19 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Swan Lake Ranger Station in Bigfork.
For more information about areas planned for wildland fire use management, contact the Hungry Horse Ranger Station at 387-3800 or the Swan Lake Ranger Station at 837-7500.
Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com