Caribou-Targhee plans prescribed burns this fall

The Caribou-Targhee National Forest has outlined four major prescribed burns this fall. The controlled fires will be ignited between mid-September and November 15, dependent on weather conditions.

All are intended to improve wildlife habitat.

The largest is the 800 to 1,000 acre Hill Creek Prescribed Burn about 5 miles east of Driggs in the Teton Basin Ranger District. It’s located between the Spring Creek and Darby Creek drainages.

The Red Creek prescription burn will be conducted in 2 burn units. They are located 10 miles west of Victor. Unit 5 is located along the North Fork of Pine Creek and south of Red Creek. Unit 3 is located east of Craig Canyon and southeast of Red Mountain.

The 370-acre Sheep Creek burn unit is about 6 miles southeast of Irwin and southeast of the Sheep Creek Summer Home area on the Palisades Ranger District.

There are 3 burn units within the Fall Creek prescribed burn. They are located about 10 miles southwest of Swan Valley.

Before any of the fires are ignited, they will have to meet very specific weather and fuel conditions. They will also require approval from the Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming smoke monitoring agencies.

Once underway, smoke might be visible in Swan Valley, Rexburg, and Teton Valley and potentially the Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park areas.