Prescribed fire operations planned for Rainey Creek

BONNEVILLE COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — The Palisades Ranger District of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest plans to conduct a 10 acre broadcast burn as early as Friday, Nov. 17, ahead of a predicted storm on Sunday.

These 10 acres are the first of approximately 500 acres to be burned over the next few years for the purpose of improving winter range for wildlife such as deer and elk by decreasing juniper and conifer densities to stimulate shrubs and forbs that are important winter forage.

The burn is located directly east of Swan Valley approximately three miles along the Rainey Creek Road (Forest Service Road #257) near the South Rainey Creek trailhead. The Rainey Creek Road will remain open to the public up to the eastern most dispersed camping area. Temporary closures may be necessary to the east which includes the South Rainey Creek Trailhead, the Road Canyon Trail (Forest Service Trail #196), as well as the Rainey Creek Trail (Forest Service Trail #115) to provide for firefighter safety during prescribed fire operations. 

Fire managers selected this timeframe to take advantage of the current dry weather and utilize the forecasted moisture to reduce the chances of future fire escape.

If weather and fuel conditions do not allow for ignition, the Forest Service will continue to monitor conditions for an extended clear weather pattern that will meet the combination of fuel moisture, temperature, wind and smoke dispersal conditions necessary for a successful operation. During any season, weather and fuel conditions are the key elements needed to safely implement prescribed fire and meet project objectives. 

This important project could not be accomplished without the support from various partners including Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Idaho Department of Fish and Game and local public officials.

For more information, or to learn about the benefits of prescribed fire, contact the Palisades Ranger District Office at 208-523-1412.