Late summer burning continues on Clearwater and Nez Perce Forests
Deputy Fire Management Office Bob Lippincott reminds Forest visitors that prescribed burning operations continue on the Clearwater and Nez Perce National Forests.
“Burning conditions are expected to remain favorable through the weekend as conditions remain dry with good smoke dispersal,” he explained.
The late summer burning projects are intended primarily to dispose of brush and reduce forest fuels. Many of the burns will also improve habitat for wildlife.
Wednesday (Sept. 16) the Nez Perce Forest’s Red River District plans to ignite the 806 Burn, a 60-acre project located approximately one mile upriver of “hanging rock” on the hillside above the South Fork Clearwater River. The project will be visible from State Highway 14, and smoke could settle in the canyon in the evenings. Motorists are encouraged reduce their speeds during smoky periods.
The Nez Perce Forest’s Salmon River Ranger District may ignite the 900-acre Kessler Burn Thursday, Sept. 17. This project is located near Graves Creek Saddle in the area referred to as “The Island,” west of Hells Canyon.
Burning is expected to continue on the Nez Perce Forest’s Moose Creek District with the ignition of an additional 120-acre unit associated with the Selway Falls project. Once burning starts, motorists could experience intermittent delays on Selway River Road 223 between Gedney Creek and Race Creek.
Fire activity continues on several recent burns.
Several units associated with the Selway Falls project were ignited last Friday (Sept. 11), and spread across an estimated 200 acres. Roughly 35 acres within the perimeter is still smoking and burning at a low intensity; consequently, there could be intermittent delays on Fog Mountain Road 319 and on the Selway River Road 223 between Race Creek and Selway Falls.
Nez Perce Forest visitors may also notice lingering smoke associated with the 200-acre Blue Mountain Burn located on the Salmon River District in the vicinity of Indian Springs. That fire was also ignited Friday, Sept. 11.
The Clearwater National Forest’s Powell Ranger District reports smoke associated with the 800-acre Jerry Johnson Fuels project is still visible from U.S. Highway 12. That burn is located approximately ten miles west of the Powell Ranger Station in the vicinity of the Jerry Johnson Campground, and was ignited over the weekend. Motorists are encouraged to reduce traveling speeds when smoke settles in the canyon in the evenings.
Finally units associated with the Middle Black Burn on the Clearwater National Forest’s North Fork District still contain some pockets of fire. Forest visitors may experience smoke in the area between Canyon Work Center and Pot Mountain. That project was ignited about three weeks ago and treated roughly 800 acres.
Air quality is a major concern during all phases of prescribed burning. Lippincott emphasized that the Forests coordinate with state, tribal and federal air quality agencies prior to, during and after ignition of all prescribed burns.
Individuals concerned about air quality can call the Smoke Hotline at 1-800-345-1007 or visit the Forest Service and Idaho Department of Lands website at http://gacc.nifc.gov/nrcc/dc/idgvc/smoke_mgmt.htm.