It’s that time of year when large plumes of smoke can be visible across Northwest Montana as fire agencies conduct prescribed fires.
Prescribed fires help reduce overgrown vegetation and help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.
Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) Fire Prevention Program Specialist Marcel Getz says fall is the best season for prescribed burns thanks to cooler temperatures and lower humidity.
He told MTN that the DNRC specializes in two types of prescribed burns: one is a prescribed “Broadcast” fire that burns across a landscape, and the other method is slash pile burning.
He said up to 60 firefighters can be working on one prescribed burn, depending on the size of the fire. Getz also noted that prescribed fires can be used as a tool set to mimic Mother Nature.
