PUBLIC LANDS -- The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is planning to conduct prescribed fires in the Huckleberry Mountains area in Stevens County Dec. 12-Jan. 31, according to the Spokane District Office.
About 153 acres of public land will be burned, and smoke may be visible on active ignition days and subsequent days. The overall goal of this burn is to reduce the fire hazard and intensity.
Generally, controlled burns also improve wildlife habitat.
Says BLM:
Prescribed fire is used in BLM's fire management program to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires, and increase public and firefighter safety. It also helps meet a variety of resource management objectives: reducing hazardous fuels (surface or ladder fuels), and restoring habitats and ecosystems. To restore fire to its natural role in forests and rangelands, trained experts employ low intensity prescribed fire in the spring and fall, when weather conditions minimize escape and allow for controlled burning.
The legal descriptions of the prescribed fire areas are Township 29 North, Range 37 East, Sections 1, 6, 12, 13, 18, 19, 24, and Township 31 North, Range 39 East, Sections 9, 10, and 34. The project areas are located approximately 10 miles northwest of the town of Wellpinit, Washington and 10 miles southwest of Chewelah, WA. The units are bordered by other BLM public lands and Washington Department of Natural Resources lands.
