BLM conducting 4,000 acres of prescribed burning outside Dillon this week

Thanks to recent moisture and favorable conditions, the Bureau of Land Management’s Dillon Field Office plans to prescribed burn about 4,000 acres in the Clark Canyon and Melrose areas this week.

"The burns will reduce hazardous fuels, improve forest health and lower the risk of high-intensity wildfires in the future," a press release from the federal agency states. "They are carried out in conjunction with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, U.S. Forest Service, and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation."

Officials plan to begin burning Tuesday and burning operations are expected to last several days.

Smoke may be visible from Interstate 15 near the Melrose and Clark Canyon areas. Officials are coordinating with Montana’s smoke management and air quality programs to help limit potential impacts.

“Our goal is to complete these important fuel reduction projects when safe conditions allow,” said Jonathan Clark, a wildland firefighter with the Dillon Field Office.

Fire officials plan to burn six units totaling 4,254 acres.

Clark Canyon area:

• East Fork 1 — 110 acres, about 2 miles east of Clark Canyon Reservoir
• East Fork 2 — 706 acres, about 2 miles east of Clark Canyon Reservoir
• Bell Face — 560 acres, about 3 miles south of Clark Canyon Reservoir

Melrose area:

• River Corridor — 980 acres, about 5 miles northwest of Melrose
• Cherry/Trapper — 713 acres, about 5 miles east of Melrose
• Rock Cherry — 1,185 acres, about 6 miles southwest of Melrose

For more information about the planned prescribed burns, contact the BLM Dillon Field Office at 406-682-4082.