Fire officials: Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest may light RX fires this week

Fire officials announced Monday that the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest may implement prescribed burning operations this week.

If weather and fuels conditions allow, potential project areas include the following:

Butte Ranger District:

Basin Creek Watershed Project — Five miles south of Butte, fire crews will continue burning slash piles. Smoke impacts are not anticipated; however, smoke may be visible from Butte.

Philipsburg Ranger District:

Gold Coin Project — Two miles west of Maxville and 10 miles north of Philipsburg. Fire crews will burn about 10 acres of piles.

Rancho Deluxe Project — Located 15 miles northwest of Deer Lodge, fire crews will burn approximately 100 acres of machine piles.

EDLV Project — Located 13 miles southeast of Deer Lodge, fire crews will burn approximately 28 acres of piles.

Officials said minimal impacts are expected. Smoke may be visible from Drummond and Deer Lodge and from Interstate 90 for short durations.

For a complete list of prescribed fire and pile burn locations, project and unit maps, and other project information, visit the Forest’s Prescribed Fire Inciweb page.