Controlled fires help maintain forest wildlife

Fall is the perfect time for controlled fires. With warm temperatures and some moisture in the air, fire experts said it is the ideal time for prescribed burns.

Jay Pence, district ranger of Caribou-Targhee National Forest, said these are called prescribed burns. He said people should not worry when seeing these fires as they are contained by fire experts.

Pence said there was a prescribed burn a few weeks ago in Red Creek as well as one recently in Fall Creek.

The fires help replenish forests and promote vegetation growth for wildlife.

Pence also says to be careful around previously burned areas.

So far, an average of 1,000 acres have been burned so far.