Incident Overview
Even in October, travelers may see smoke rising from the crests of the Wolf Mountains east of Lodge Grass, but the fire is all prescribed burning prepared by Crow Agency BIA Forestry to bring relief to the ponderosa forest.
Both prescribed fires and mechanical thinning have removed underbrush from more than 4,500 acres on the Crow Reservation so far in 2008.
Prescribed fires remove dense undergrowth which threatens the Tribally-owned pine timberland, and which has accumulated in the absence of fire. The ashes provide fertilizer and breathing room to the larger trees, and increase wildlife habitat. "We maintain the land carefully now, to stop it from burning up the next hot summer," said Fuels Specialist Randy Pretty On Top.
For any prescribed burn, burn bosses follow detailed specific plans for preparing firelines, working with weather, and keeping fires small, yet bringing large benefits to local ecosystems.
Twenty firefighters and three engines have been at work. The announcement above is likely the last new addition to this web page. Click on "Photos" above for images of the prescribed burning operations.
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Basic Information
| Incident Type | Prescribed Fire |
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