Buckhorn prescribed fire project approved
February 7, 2014
The Bonners Ferry Ranger District announced the approval of the Idaho Buckhorn Prescribed Fire Project, located in the Buckhorn Mountain vicinity approximately seven miles north of Moyie Springs within the Deer Creek Watershed.

This prescribed fire project will involve igniting a number of small prescribed fires across an approximately 4,000 acre area during the course of the next several years.

Prescribed fires within this project area will be used to provide a variety of benefits such as improving wildlife habitat, providing restoration opportunities for white bark pine and reducing natural fuels to improve the forest’s natural resilience to wildfires.

Burning will occur in either the spring or early fall each year and is expected to take several years to complete. Exact dates for planned ignitions are not possible to predict as fires will only be ignited under certain weather and vegetation conditions to ensure safety and smoke management goals are met.

The Forest Service understands that planned fires and smoke can affect forest visitors and local communities.

As a member of the Montana/Idaho Airshed Group, the Forest Service only allows burning when predicted smoke emissions and expected smoke dispersion meet safety and air quality guidelines. Please check the North Idaho RX Fire website frequently between March 1 and November15 for the current status of planned prescribed fires. Members of the public are also welcome to call the prescribed fire hotline at 1-800-232-FIRE.

For more information please contact Bonners Ferry District Ranger Kevin Knauth at (208) 267-6701, Project Team Leader Jennifer Anderson (208) 267-5561, or visit the Idaho Panhandle National Forests website.