BOISE, Idaho — Boise National Forest officials will conduct a bevy of prescribed fires throughout southwestern Idaho beginning in April and scheduled through June, as a means to reduce wildfire risk.
In April, fire managers will begin their process of monitoring the weather and vegetation to determine precisely when and where the Forest Service will conduct "low intensity" prescribed fires, which the Forest Service said will "reduce the risk of future catastrophic wildfires that threaten communities, municipal watersheds, infrastructure and wildlife habitat."
The project intends to burn up to 6,901 acres across 10 southwestern Idaho areas within five different districts, according to Boise National Forest. Controlled burns in each area are expected to last one to two days.
Officials stated in a news release that the prescribed burn project is part of the Forest Service's Wildfire Crisis Strategy, as well as Boise National Forest's 5 to 7-year plan to reduce potential "fuel" sources for wildfires, such as forest vegetation, overgrowth and other potentially hazardous material.
"The Boise National Forest has been very successful in increasing the pace and scale of work on the ground," said Boise National Forest Supervisor Brant Petersen. "I'm proud of the hard work our employees and partners have done to help reduce the likelihood of future catastrophic wildfires that threaten our communities and natural resources."
The Forest Service stated the project is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Firefighters will utilize various resources and methods, both by land and air, such as drip torches, drones and helicopters.
- Mountain Home Ranger District:
- Avelene (380 acres): Approx. 12 miles northeast of Boise off Forest Service Road 212 in the Clear Creek area.
- Cottonwood III (929 acres): Approx. 15 miles northeast of Boise along Forest Service Road 377 in the Cottonwood Creek drainage, north of Arrowrock Reservoir.
- Cascade Ranger District:
- Crawford (97 acres): Located 3 miles northeast of Cascade at Crawford Work Center along the Warm Lake Road.
- Lost Horse (65 acres): 22 miles southeast of Cascade.
- Moore Moths (223 acres): 10 miles west of Cascade on West Mountain.
- Emmett Ranger District:
- High Fork (221 acres): Approx. 6 miles northeast of Ola and north of High Valley.
- Idaho City Ranger District:
- Alder (529 acres): Located 2 miles north of Placerville off Forest Service Road 605.
- Little Ophir (516 acres): Located 2 miles north of Centerville off Forest Service Road 382.
- Mores South (868 acres): Located 4 miles east of Idaho City.
- Lowman Ranger District:
- West Lowman (3,073 acres): 1 to 5 miles northeast of Lowman within the Clear Creek, Miller Creek and Lick Creek drainages.
Forest officials said that once fire managers decide on exact dates for prescribed burns in each area, they will be posted on the Boise National Forest's website.
An interactive map for locations and information on prescribed fires throughout the region can be viewed on Southwest Idaho Interagency Fuels Treatment's website here.
"Our prescribed fires are carefully planned by our firefighters to account for public safety, reduced future wildfire risk, and minimize smoke during the burning operations," Petersen said.
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