Prescribed fire planned in Lick Creek Drainage of Salmon-Challis National Forest

NORTH FORK, Idaho (KIFI) - The North Zone of the Salmon-Challis National Forest may implement a prescribed fire on the North Fork Ranger District in the Lick Creek drainage this week.

If prescribed fire weather conditions are favorable, specialists will hand ignite and/or use a helicopter to ignite an approximately 800 acre area in the Lick Creek drainage. 

This process relies on coordination with the National Weather Service and air quality regulators to determine the best possible weather conditions that promote smoke dispersal and limit smoke impacts to local and regional communities. 

This broadcast burn unit is part of the Upper North Fork Hazardous Fuels Reduction project. This maintenance burn will be done as a follow-up to further reduce surface fuels and fallen trees which resulted from the burn that was done in this same area in 2018. This supports the overall project goals to reduce surface fuels, increase height of the canopy, reduce small tree densities, and promote fire resilient trees, thereby improving our ability to protect communities from wildfire. 

Because this is a maintenance burn, low to moderate fire intensities are expected with minimized smoke effects. Fire personnel will work closely with the Idaho/Montana Airshed Group, the National Weather Service, and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to ensure that smoke impacts are minimized.

The decision to ignite will depend on favorable weather conditions and the need to reduce smoke effects as much as possible. Smoke from these prescribed fires will be much less than what would be expected from a wildfire. If smoke concentrations approach air quality standards fire ignition may be delayed until air quality improves. Residual smoke may be visible for up to 2 weeks following ignition, but most of the smoke from the fires is anticipated to dissipate 1-2 days after ignition.

A mosaic pattern of burned and unburned areas will remain after treatment. These post fire effects improve wildlife habitat and promote long-term ecosystem integrity by reducing the risk of high-severity wildland fire. Prescribed fire is an important component of natural resource management and in conjunction with commercial thinning, non-commercial thinning, and reforestation, this on the ground work will lead to restoring the integrity and resiliency of our forested ecosystems.

All areas will be signed, and notifications will be made to residents or interested parties prior to ignition.  Please use caution in these listed areas during burning operations and observe any posted signs in the area. 

The public may call the North Fork Ranger District for more information at 208-865-2700.