Spring fire projects planned

 The Swan Lake Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest is planning to conduct multiple spring prescribed fire projects when weather, fuel conditions, and air quality become favorable. 

Smoke will be visible from various places in the Flathead Valley and the Swan Valley depending on the location of the burn units and weather conditions.

q Blacktail Mountain area — Up to 72 acres of logging slash from previously logged areas will be burned to reduce hazardous fuels as well as create favorable conditions for natural regeneration of plant and tree species.

q Haskill Mountain area — This ecosystem burn project has targeted 128 acres of mid- to upper-elevation brush and conifer. Fire suppression has caused a change in species composition resulting in accumulations of woody material and an increased risk of stand replacement fire.  

q Crane Mountain area — This work includes three units in the Estes Lake, Hunger Creek and Crane Creek areas. The area is several miles south of Ferndale above Woods Bay, totaling 506 acres of burning. Objectives are to reintroduce fire to the landscape and reduce hazardous fuels that have accumulated over the years. Trail No. 96 into the Estes Lake area may be temporarily closed during burn operations.

q Meadow Smith and Cooney McKay – This project includes under-burning timber stands located within the Meadow and Smith Creek areas of the Swan Valley.  

q Holland Lake area — This project includes under-burning on 135 acres of ponderosa pine stands as part of ecosystem health.   

q Pile burning — Hand or machine piles are located in several locations within the Swan Valley and Blacktail Mountain.

 These piles are strategically burned based on their location, access, and weather conditions.

For additional information about these projects, contact the Swan Lake Ranger District in Bigfork at 406-837-7500.