The Dolly Varden Fire was reported at 1:50 p.m. on April 23 southeast of Seeley Lake. Now 100% contained, the fire reached one and a half acres. It was caused by a wind-driven escaped debris burn in an area under Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation responsibility, according to an update from the department.
Four structures were threatened but because of quick responses from USDA Forest Service Seeley Lake Ranger District firefighters and seven engines, no structures were harmed.
“The quick response and initial command of the fire by USFS, as well as the additional aid from the Seeley Lake Rural Fire District engines are great examples of the strong relationships between the DNRC and our partners in the Seeley Lake area. Wildfire does not respect boundaries, so mutual aid and cooperation are critical to adequate fire response,” a DNRC release stated.
The department reminds all that while outdoor burning is currently allowed, as of press on April 29, burn permits are required. It advises residents to not burn when winds are stronger than five miles per hour, to always have tools and water close by and to not leave burn piles unattended.
Burn permits can be obtained here: https://app.egovmt.com/burnpermit/
The past couple of months have hosted fairly frequent prescribed burns across the Lolo National Forest. Most recently, four burns were completed in different ranger districts on April 25, including a 66-acre burn in the Seeley Lake Ranger District in the Horseshoe Hills area south of Seeley Lake.
Quinn Carver, Seeley Lake District ranger, said prescribed burning may be completed in the next couple of weeks. The weather has been weird this year, Carver said, and the district wasn’t able to line up a big block of burning time.
The burn in Horseshoe Hills lined up with prescription — or criteria that need to be met in order for prescribed burns to take place, like a range of temperature or wind speeds — and so the district went for it, Carver said. If the prescription isn’t met, a district can’t burn.
“It’s one of those things where we’re almost checking fuels and conditions daily because it’s like one snow storm and we’re out of prescription, one rainstorm and we’re out of prescription,” Carver said.
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