Spring Prescribed Burning Planned on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests

Kamiah, Idaho (April 23, 2018) - The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests will be conducting prescribed burns throughout the forest starting as early as this week and continuing throughout the next several weeks as weather allows.  As the snow melts and drier weather sets in, conditions will improve and allow fire managers to conduct prescribed burning operations.

Burning in the spring is an important way of reducing the amount of smoke that typically impacts communities during the fire season.  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 will dissipate 1-2 days.

Firefighter and public safety are our highest priorities.  Prior to conducting a prescribed fire many values at risk are considered and include firefighter and public safety, cumulative affects to communities, neighboring jurisdictions and private lands, natural resources (either in the loss of habitat due to removal of fire or devastation of habitat when a wildfire of much higher severity then a prescribed burn occurs), and other resources such as state and local firefighters, EMTs, aerial resources, etc.  This applies to all hazardous environments, and to the concept that we incur risk if we burn and if we do not burn.

Fire is a part of the environment in these fuel types and a natural process that will occur regardless if it is a planned managed burn or an unplanned wildfire. Prescribed burning is done to reduce dead and down fuels, selectively thin understory trees in densely forested stands, stimulate fire tolerant plant species, enhance forage for wildlife, reduce the risk of large-scale stand-replacement fires, create strategic fuels breaks in the urban interface, and bring back fire’s natural role to the landscape.

Short duration trail and area closures may be implemented for public and firefighter safety during prescribed burn activities.  Closure information can be found at http://bit.ly/2HMxNam_Alerts_and_Notices. 

Acres planned are a total of all acres that will see positive impacts as a result of implementing the prescribed burns.  Not every acre will burn or be ignited.  The planned prescribed fires by location are as follows:

Salmon River Ranger District - 3,500 acres are planned:

·         Wickiup prescribed burn - 2,000 acres located along Highway 14 between mileposts 18 and 21.  Road signs will be placed along the highway and those traveling the route should expect to encounter fire personnel and equipment. No other impacts to Highway 14 are expected.

·         Blue Mountain prescribed burn - 500 acres located 6 miles west of Riggins.

·         Kessler prescribed burn - 1,000 acres located in the headwaters of Race Creek, 6 miles northwest of Riggins.

North Fork Ranger District - 360 acres are planned:

·         Barnard Junction project area - 360 acres located near Fourth of July Creek and the Kelly Work Center

Lochsa/Powell Ranger District - 672 acres are planned:

·         101 Roadside Salvage/Woodrat Harvest Units - 382 acres located 2 miles northwest of Syringa

·         White White Harvest Units - 171 acres located 2 miles southeast of Musselshell Work Center

·         Dead Canyon Harvest Units - 119 acres located on Forest Service road 5542, 3 miles southeast of Canyon Junction

Moose Creek Ranger District -400 acres are planned:

·         Iron Mountain Harvest piles -400 acres, 10 miles south of the Fenn Ranger Station along Forest Service road 464

Palouse Ranger District - 303 acres are planned:

·         Dinner Stew - 81 acres located at the end of FSR 4761 road south of Helmer

·         Dinner Stew Mulch - 27 acres located along the first ½ mile of FSR 4761 road south of Helmer

·         Potlatch Canyon 1 - 20 acres located along Park road 1963, ¼ mile south of the forest boundary near Helmer

Red River Ranger District - 768 acres are planned:

·         French Gulch Timber Sale - 93 acres, 5 miles southeast of Elk City

·         Jungle Trail Timber Sale - 140 acres, 10 miles southeast of Elk City

·         South Township Timber Sale - 169 acres along the south border of the Elk City Township

·         South Township Landscape Prescribed burn - 366 acres along the south border of the Elk City Township

Specific information on the location and timing of these prescribed burns are available at each of the district offices.  Salmon River Ranger District - Richard Stiles or Graydon Galloway, 208-983-1950, North Fork Ranger District - Brandon Skinner or TC Peterson, 208-476-4541,Powell Ranger Station - Matt Young or Brandon Cichowski, 208-942-3113, Moose Creek Ranger District - Tim Schaeffer or Jon Norman, 208-926-4258, Lochsa Ranger Station - Sean Gaines or Neal Cox, 208-926-4274, Palouse Ranger District - Lisa Spinelli or Alan Carlson, 208-875-1131, , Red River Ranger District - Josh Bransford or Tom McLeod, 208-842-2245.

Eastern Idaho holding Annual Fireline Refresher for contractors/vendors

U.S. Department of the Interior Valor and Gold Smokey Bear awards presented yesterday

BOISE, Idaho - In a ceremony held today at the Boise Wyndham Garden Hotel, two prestigious awards were given to BLM Idaho wildland fire employees. The U.S. Department of the Interior Valor Award was granted to eight Boise District firefighters for their emergency response during a fatal fire engine accident. Boise District Fire Prevention, Education and Investigation Specialist Carrie Bilbao also received the Gold Smokey Bear Award for outstanding accomplishments in public service.

"In times of crisis, the bravest among us step up and lead from the front," Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke said. "Few would have had the courage to do what these eight Boise District firefighters did, and we also owe a special debt of gratitude to Carrie Bilbao for her innovative approach to fire prevention. It is the American way: intrepidity and ingenuity. We have the best people at Interior, and these awards highlight some of the finest in our midst. They have made Idaho and America proud."

“I am so proud to recognize the exceptional service of these BLM Idaho employees,” BLM Deputy Director for Operations (acting) Mike Nedd said. “These national awards are bestowed with the utmost of care and consideration, highlighting the exemplary work of those who passionately serve their community while fulfilling BLM’s mission.”

The U.S. Department of the Interior Valor Award recognizes employees who have gone above and beyond the call of duty and have exposed themselves to unusual risk to serve the critical needs of others, usually in rescue, lifesaving or other critical assistance contexts. 

In July 2016, eight Boise District firefighters were traveling with a Nevada BLM engine crew in rural Nevada when an engine carrying three BLM Nevada firefighters had a tire blowout and rolled.  The Boise firefighters immediately began rendering medical aid to the injured Nevada firefighters.  One Nevada firefighter was instantly killed in the accident, while a second succumbed to his injuries in spite of the Boise crew’s best efforts to stabilize him until he could get to a hospital.  The Boise crew treated the third firefighter for injuries and shock.

The Boise crew, stationed out of Bruneau, was supervised by Ray Michael Bilbao of Cambridge, Idaho, and includes: Damian Martinez of Caldwell, Idaho; Jason Carl Martindale of Harrison, Arkansas; Blaine Thomas Jewett of Mountain Home, Idaho; Garrett Robert Hall of Ashton, Idaho; David Lester Butler of Bliss, Idaho; Zachary William Cada of Boise, Idaho; and Jack William Richelieu of Mountain Home, Idaho.

The Valor Award is normally presented by the Secretary of the Interior during an Awards Convocation held annually in Washington, D.C., but not all of the Boise recipients were able to travel for that ceremony last year.

Carrie Bilbao, who is no relation to Ray Bilbao, is nationally recognized as an expert fire investigator. Based on her stellar investigative work, Bilbao developed widely praised fire investigation training courses and has used fire causes to develop effective education and outreach campaigns. These campaigns have reached thousands of people, and helped to reduce fires started by exploding targets across Idaho by 80 percent over the past four years.

The Smokey Bear Award is the highest national honor bestowed for outstanding work and significant program contributions in wildfire prevention. The Gold Smokey Bear award was given to Bilbao because of her sustained outstanding national service with significant program impact in wildfire prevention over the past two years.  The National Association of State Foresters, the U.S. Forest Service and the Advertising Council sponsor the awards, and nominations are considered and voted upon by the members of the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Committee.   

Three levels of the Smokey Bear award may be granted: Gold, Silver and Bronze. Notably, BLM Idaho employees have won all three levels of the Smokey Bear award in the past three years. Idaho Falls District Fire Prevention and Mitigation Specialist Kevin Conran received the Silver Smokey Bear award in 2016, and BLM Idaho Fire Mitigation and Education Specialist Jennifer Kline received the Bronze Smokey Bear award in 2017.

For information about the Secretary’s Valor award, please contact Randy Eardley, 208-387-5895; for information about the Gold Smokey Bear award, please contact Jennifer Kline, 208-373-3963.

2018 U.S. Department of the Interior Valor Awards

left to right: David Lester Butler, Damian Martinez, Jason Carl Martindale, Blaine Thomas Jewett, Garrett Robert Hall, Ray Michael Bilbao, Jack William Richelieu, Zachary William Cada

Gold Smokey Bear Award Honoree

left to right: Howard Hedrick, Acting BLM Assistant Director Fire and Aviation; Mike Nedd, Acting BLM Deputy Director of Operations; Patti Hirami, Acting Deputy Chief, U.S. Forest Service; Carrie Bilbao Gold Smokey Award Winner; Peter Ditton, Acting BLM Idaho State Director; and John Ruhs, BLM Nevada State Director

BLM Smokey Award Winners 2016-2018

left to right:  Kevin Conran, 2016 Silver Smokey Award Winner; Carrie Bilbao, 2018 Gold Smokey Award Winner; Jennifer Kline, 2017 Bronze Smokey Award Winner; and Patti Hirami, Acting Deputy Chief, U.S. Forest Service.

The National Fire Potential Outlook for April thru July

The National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook has been updated for April - July 2018 https://go.usa.gov/xQYXM