HELENA, Mont. — Smoke has been visible across the Helena Valley in recent weeks as the U.S. Forest Service conducts prescribed burns, but local fire officials are asking residents to make sure they know what they are seeing before calling 911.
Watch the full story here:
The Helena Ranger District is planning several additional prescribed burns over the next few days. Based on current conditions, crews plan to burn a 300-acre unit in Wakina Sky in the South Hills of Helena and a 500-acre unit near the Brooklyn Bridge trailhead southwest of Helena on Friday, Oct. 2. On Monday, Oct. 5, fire personnel are planning to burn 180 acres in one of the Telegraph units just south of Highway 12 near the Continental Divide.
West Valley Fire Chief David Hamilton said his department's volunteer firefighters have responded to roughly 10 to 12 calls about smoke from prescribed burns over the last few weeks.
“Try to really make sure that when you are calling 911 that it is for a true fire of an emergency,” Hamilton said.
The Forest Service says conditions this fall have been favorable for prescribed burning following a relatively quiet wildfire season and significant rainfall in August.
“The weather parameters and the fuel parameters are there to be successful, and also the amount of resources that are available within our region are much higher,” said Michael Kaiser, a Forest Service fire management officer.
Prescribed burns are conducted to remove dead and overgrown vegetation from the forest floor. By reducing the amount of fuel available, officials say the burns can help limit the intensity and spread of future wildfires, particularly near populated areas.
“We live in an area surrounded by forest, and this work is necessary to help protect lives ultimately and homes,” said Chiara Cipriano, a spokesperson for the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. “That short-term disturbance is worth it for that long-term gain of safety for the town.”
Prescribed burning has become increasingly common in the Helena area over the last 10 to 15 years.
The Forest Service estimates about 5,000 to 6,000 acres have been burned in the Helena Ranger District this year. A few additional burns are planned, with roughly 1,000 acres remaining to be treated.
While the burns are carefully planned, they can produce visible smoke and flames that may be concerning to residents.
Hamilton said responding to calls about prescribed burns can be particularly challenging for a volunteer department.
“Those people either have to leave their jobs to respond to a possible fire, or we don't get them and we burn up their time for when we actually do have a true emergency,” Hamilton said.
Officials also say residents may continue to see smoke or flames for days after a prescribed burn. Smoke can linger for an extended period — in some cases, for up to a month — as fuels within the burn area continue to smolder and are consumed.
“All of these burns are done very methodically, and so containment lines are secure,” Kaiser said.
The Forest Service has increased its efforts to notify the public about prescribed burns. Information is available through InciWeb, social media, a LinkTree and direct notifications, including details about where burns are taking place.
Fire officials encourage residents who see smoke to first check whether a prescribed burn is occurring in the area before calling 911 if they believe they are seeing an actual emergency.
“Verifying whether or not that fire is of concern or not of concern is a huge help for us,” Hamilton said.
More information about upcoming prescribed burns is available through the Forest Service, and local fire officials are available to answer questions from residents. You can also call the Helena Ranger District at 406-449-5201.
