Local U.S. Forest Service officials still are assessing impacts from the recent 35-day partial government shutdown, but say they appreciated community support while navigating uncertain times.
Columns of smoke have risen over the last couple of weeks near York as the Forest Service burns slash piles from months of thinning projects. With furloughed staff, burning could not take place during the lighter snow month of January, and now crews are battling the elements to catch up.
“We’re still assessing those impacts but I would sum it up pretty simply, you have 12 months in a year and lose a month’s worth of work, you’re not going to get a year’s worth of work in 11 months,” said Bill Avey, supervisor for the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.