Forest Service to conduct prescribed burn near Seeley

The Forest Service plans to use prescribed burns on a couple units across the district, with one coming as soon as Sept. 17.

Seeley Lake District Ranger Quinn Carver said in an email that the district is looking to burn about 135 acres in the Horseshoe Hills area north of Big Sky Lake. Carver said smoke will be visible from the site and likely pass through Ovando before dispersing in the Upper Blackfoot Valley.

"I don't want folks to be alarmed when they see smoke," Carver said. "The stuff in Horseshoe Hills has been logged and the burning is just a continuation of creating a landscape where we can quickly suppress unwanted or dangerous fires near populated areas."

All prescribed burns are required to have a burn plan before going through with the act. Carver said the smoke from this prescribed burn should be minimal, especially if rain reaches the area soon after Sunday.