(LEWISTOWN, Mont.) - Columns of smoke may soon be seen rising from the North Moccasin Mountains.
BLM Lewistown Field Office Forester Rich Byron burns a slash pile to reduce wildfire fuel. (BLM Photo by Jonathan Moor)
Logging landing and hand piles will be ignited by the Bureau of Land Management North Central Montana District Fire personnel about 16 miles north of Lewistown, Mont.
Piles are located in the Mason Canyon and Iron Gulch drainages of the North Moccasin Mountains.
With a fresh blanket of snow over the entire project area, active ignition will occur over 1-3 days. Smoke may be present anywhere from 1-2 weeks due to the size of piles and wood residue.
“During the logging operation non-merchantable timber was piled alongside the roads," explained Fuels Specialist Mike Solheim. “The removal of these piles will improve ingress and egress in the event of a wildfire and will allow for continued roadside rehabilitation in the future."
The BLM is making America great through shared conservation. As stewards, the BLM manages public lands for the benefit of current and future generations, supporting conservation as we pursue our multiple-use mission.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
