Davis 5 Prescribed Burn - Escaped Fire Review

From the AP: "Deficiencies in the burn plan, disregard for a changing weather forecast and leaving little room for error may have contributed to a prescribed burn this summer that turned into a wildfire, according to a U.S. Forest Service review released Monday."

The Helena National Forest website has the summary report and full report reviewing the Davis 5 Prescribed Burn/Escaped Fire.

Source: Volz, M., Associated Press (22 Nov. 2010). "Report: Burn plan deficient, weather forecast disregarded in Helena wildfire." Missoulian.

Smoky Again in Montana

From the Missoulian: "Wet, cool weather over the weekend helped crews contain several wildfires burning in western Montana, but the Packer Meadows blaze continues to cause trouble."

Where's that smoke coming from? In many cases, the smoke people see in Montana's skies is not coming from wildfires in Montana. For a definitive answer, use the Montana Department of Environmental Quality wildfire smoke updates. The daily smoke update reports air quality in the state and typically tells you where the smoke is coming from (today, from fires in British Columbia).

For updates on the Packer Meadows fire and other wildfires, visit InciWeb. The Forest Service Remote Mapping Applications Center gives you a visual overview of wildfires in the U.S.

Source: Chaney, R. (3 Aug. 2010). "Cool weather calms western Montana wildfires." Missoulian.

Kootenai Creek Fire Hydrology Review

From the Missoulian: "In mid-October, the U.S. Forest Service conducted a Burned Area Emergency Response assessment on the after-effects of the Kootenai Creek fire.

"On Monday, they released a report detailing the burn's effects on watersheds."

The Kootenai Creek Fire Hydrology Report is available on the Bitterroot National Forest website.

Source: Moss, W., Ravalli Republic (3 Nov. 2009). "Report details aftermath of Kootenai Creek fire." Missoulian. B1.

Montana and Yellowstone Fires

You can keep up to date with reports from fires in Montana using Inciweb, an "incident information system" produced through the partnership of Several federal agencies. Inciweb includes quick facts about a fire (such as its size and its cause), a map of the area, and latest reports. The Montana page includes fires in Montana. The fire in Yellowstone, dubbed the Arnica Fire, is listed with Wyoming fires. The Saddle Mountain fire, near Arlee, is not listed on Inciweb at present.

The MODIS Active Fire Mapping Program provides a map of active fires in the U.S. Also, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) has information about smoke in Montana and active fires.

Sources: Associated Press (28 Sept. 2009). "UPDATE: Monster fire in Yellowstone Park grows to 14 square miles." Missoulian.
Listoe, A. (28 Sept. 2009). "MacDonald Pass fire kept in check." Helena Independent Record.
Szpaller, K., and Devlin, S. (27 Sept. 2009). "Firefighters hold western Montana blazes in check against strong winds." Missoulian.

Kootenai Creek Fire

From the Missoulian: "The Kootenai Creek fire is the largest of only a half dozen wildfires on the Bitterroot National Forest so far this fire season, which has been quiet across much of the West.

"Started by a lightning strike on July 12, the Kootenai Creek fire is burning on the eastern flank of the Kootenai drainage in an avalanche chute about two miles into the wilderness."

The latest information on the Kootenai Creek fire, and other wildfires in Montana, is available on InciWeb. InciWeb is updated throughout the day and includes maps, incident overviews, and other core information.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality provides daily air quality updates with a focus on the impact of wildfire smoke.

Source: Cramer, J. (24 July 2009). "Kootenai Creek fire reaches 400 acres." Missoulian. B1.

WTC7 Collapse Investigation

From the Associated Press: "Federal investigators said Thursday they have solved a mystery of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks: the collapse of World Trade Center building 7, a source of long-running conspiracy theories."

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released information on their investigation into the collapse of World Trade Center 7 (WTC7). This information includes the final report, digital models of the collapse, a question & answer document, and an archive of the webcast. Additional information related to the World Trade Center is gathered on the NIST & the World Trade Center website.

Source: Barrett, D. (22 Aug. 2008). "Feds: Fire took down building next to twin towers." Associated Press.

Timber Harvesting Ruling

From the Missoulian: "Depending on one's perspective, a federal court ruling last week either cleared the way for widespread logging of Western forests or it reinstated timber harvesting standards that agencies have had to follow for years."

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision on July 2, 2008, in the Lands Council v. McNair case.

For background information, The Forest Service has websites on National Forest Management Act (NFMA) Planning and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Source: Cramer, J. (10 July 2008). "Outcome of ruling on logging uncertain: Decision says judges can't act as scientists." Missoulian. A1.

A Return to Smoky Skies

From the Missoulian: "Hundreds of wildland fires in California, many started by lightning strikes, are gobbling up thousands of acres, destroying structures and forcing people to flee their neighborhoods.

"And winds from California have pushed the smoke north along the coast into British Columbia, then down into Montana, said Mamie Colburn, air quality specialist at the Missoula City-County Health Department."

As we move into fire season again, here are resources to help you find out about fire conditions, wildfire safety, and the origins of local, smoky air.

Fire & Smoke Management - DEQ. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) tracks air quality in Montana and issues daily forest fire air quality updates. The air quality updates also indicate where the smoke in Montana skies is coming from.

Montana Fire Conditions. The state of Montana has assembled a page with various fire-related resources, including air quality reports, fire restriction information, fire conditions, and tax relief.

InciWeb. This site assembles a great deal of information on ongoing or recent fires, including incident data, containment levels, maps, planned actions, and more. The site is updated frequently.

National Interagency Fire Center. This site provides daily wildland fire updates, statistics, safety tips, and more.

Northern Rockies Coordination Center (NRCC). The NRCC provides frequent updates on fires in Montana, Idaho, and North Dakota. The site also offers regional information on fire danger and fire forecasts.

MODIS Active Fire Mapping Program. This program is part of the Remote Sensing Applications Center of the Forest Service. The program has national and regional maps of fires, hot spots, and smoke plumes. Use this site for a visual overview of current fire activity.

The Missoula County Environmental Health Division has also created a page on Wildfire Smoke Information.

Source: Moy, C. (9 July 2008). "California wildfires bring haze to region." Missoulian. A1.

Wildland Fire Suppression Hearings

From the Missoulian: "The [House Natural Resources] committee is holding hearings on a pair of bills that would create an emergency fund to help pay for mounting fire suppression costs, which have dramatically cut into the U.S. Forest Service's bottom line."

The House Natural Resources Committee is holding a hearing today with testimony from the Big Sky Coalition's Sonny LaSalle. The committee will be discussing bills H.R. 5541 and H.R. 5648.

Source: Backus, P. (10 April 2008). "House committee to discuss fire costs." Missoulian. B1.

Aerial Fire Retardant Documents

From the Missoulian: "An environmental watchdog group on Wednesday sued the U.S. Forest Service for a second time over the agency's use of aerial fire retardants.

"The Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics, an Oregon-based nonprofit group, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Missoula."

The lawsuit relates to reports on aerial application of fire retardants. These reports were produced by the Forest Service, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The most recent Forest Service report is a Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact.

Information on the the Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE) lawsuit is available on the group's website.

Source: Cramer, J. (3 April 2008). "Group files second suit against USFS." Missoulian.

FLAME Act

From the Billings Gazette: "The federal government would revamp how it pays for firefighting and take some of the burden off the U.S. Forest Service by creating a permanent fund for devastating blazes, under legislation introduced Thursday by key House Democrats."

Information on the "FLAME Act," H.R. 5541, is available through THOMAS. THOMAS links to the bill text, bill summary & status, and details on all Congressional actions on the bill, such as the introductory remarks on the bill.

Source: Straub, N. (7 Mar. 2008). "House bill aims to start fire fund." Billings Gazette.

Jocko Lakes Fire Salvage Project

From the Missoulian: "If you'd like to tell the U.S. Forest Service what you think about the agency's post-burn plans for the Jocko Lakes wildfire, here's your chance.

"The Lolo National Forest is opening a monthlong public scoping period on its plan to log just under 2,000 acres of the 11,603 acres that burned last summer."

Lolo National Forest has issued a scoping letter and call for comments on the Jocko Lakes Fire Salvage Project. The project area map and details of potential salvage areas are on the project page.

Comments on the project should be sent prior to March 21, 2008. Comments can be sent by fax: 406 3637106; email: commentsnorthernloloseeleylake@fs.fed.us, or U.S. mail: Sandy Mack, TEAMS Enterprise Unit, 1801 N. First, Hamilton, MT 59840.

Source: Moore, M. (20 Feb. 2008). "Post-burn project comments sought." Missoulian. B1.

Sierra Club v. Bosworth

From the Missoulian: "A federal appeals court on Wednesday blocked a Bush administration rule that allowed logging and burning projects in national forests without first analyzing their effects on the environment."

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling yesterday in Sierra Club v. Bosworth.

The Forest Service Ecosystem Management Coordination (EMC) website includes information on the categorical exclusion rules for hazardous fuels reduction. The Forest Service also has a page on NEPA implementation.

The EPA website offers some useful background information on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Source: Chea, T. (6 Dec. 2006). "9th Circuit rules against logging exemptions." Missoulian. A2.

GAO Report on Wildland Fire Management

From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) summary: "Recognizing that millions of acres are at risk from wildland fire, the federal government expends substantial resources on thinning brush, trees, and other potentially hazardous fuels to reduce the fire risk to communities and the environment. However, questions have been raised about how the agencies responsible for wildland fire management--the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service and the Department of the Interior's (Interior) Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and National Park Service (NPS)--allocate their fuel reduction budgets and select projects. GAO was asked to report on the agencies' processes for allocating funds and selecting projects, and on how, if at all, these processes could be improved to better ensure that they contribute to the agencies' overall goal of reducing risk. To obtain this information, GAO visited headquarters and field offices of all five agencies; obtained data on fuel reduction funding and accomplishments; and reviewed previous evaluations of the fuel reduction program."

The summary page for the new report, "Wildland Fire Management: Better Information and a Systematic Process Could Improve Agencies' Approach to Allocating Fuel Reduction Funds and Selecting Projects," provides links to report highlights and the full document.

September 2007 Special Session of the Montana Legislature

From the Missoulian: "Putting politics mostly aside, lawmakers on Wednesday budgeted $82 million to pay the state's fire bills this year and next.

"The session, called last week specifically so lawmakers could set aside money for firefighting, ended collegially Wednesday evening after little more than 10 hours. The House formally adjourned at 6:15; the Senate followed seven minutes later."

The September 2007 Special Session of the Montana Legislature passed three bills on Wednesday.

HB 1: Revise disaster and emergency laws

HB 3: Establish fund for fire suppression costs (fiscal note)

HB 4: Feed bill for special session

Source: McKee, Jennifer. "Lawmakers strike deal on fire budget." Missoulian September 6, 2007. A1.

Special Legislative Session to Fund Fighting Wildfires

From the state press release: "At a news conference today Governor Brian Schweitzer issued a call for a special session to fund fighting the wildfires. The session will be on Wednesday, September 5 at 8:00AM."

The press release includes links to the Governor's Call for a Special Session, draft legislation for the September 2007 Special Session, and other background materials.

Source: McKee, Jennifer. "Governor sets special session for fire funding." Missoulian August 28, 2007. A1.

Montana Fire Season Resources

Fire season is upon us in Montana. The government offers several methods for finding updates on regional wildfires and advice for staying safe:

InciWeb: Incident Information Center
This site assembles a great deal of information on ongoing or recent fires, including incident data, containment levels, maps, planned actions, and more. The site is updated frequently.

National Interagency Fire Center
This site provides daily wildland fire updates, statistics, safety tips, and more. Tips on protecting your home from wildfire may be particularly helpful.

Northern Rockies Coordination Center (NRCC)
The NRCC provides frequent updates on fires in Montana, Idaho, and North Dakota. The site also offers regional information on fire danger and fire forecasts.

Montana Fire Conditions
The state of Montana has assembled a page with various fire-related resources, including air quality reports, fire restriction information, fire conditions, and tax relief.

Fire & Smoke Management - DEQ
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) tracks air quality in Montana and issues daily forest fire air quality updates. The air quality updates also indicate where the smoke in Montana skies is coming from. The DEQ has a guide on the health effects of wildfire smoke.

Edited to add:

MODIS Active Fire Mapping Program
This program is part of the Remote Sensing Applications Center of the Forest Service. The program has national and regional maps of fires, hot spots, and smoke plumes. Use this site for a visual overview of current fire activity.

GAO Report on Wildland Fire Management

From the Missoulian: "The Government Accountability Office on Tuesday released a report highly critical of federal efforts to rein in the cost of fighting wildfires, while some senators pushed the agencies to more actively manage forests to prevent fires."

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, "Wildland Fire Management: Lack of Clear Goals or a Strategy Hinders Federal Agencies' Efforts to Contain the Costs of Fighting Fires," is available on the GAO website.

The report was presented at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources. The hearing webpage includes links to prepared testimony from witnesses and an archived webcast.

Source: Straub, Noelle. "GAO blasts firefighting spending in report." Missoulian June 27, 2007. A1.

Wildfire Cost Review

From the Forest Service press release: "The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that an independent Brookings Institution panel found the USDA Forest Service exercised appropriate and adequate fiscal diligence in suppressing wildfires during the record breaking 2006 fire season. The panel reviewed 19 large fires that burned more than 1.1 million acres and cost $470 million dollars to suppress."

The full report has been posted on the Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management site: "Towards a Collaborative Cost Management Strategy: 2006 U.S. Forest Service Large Wildfire Cost Review Recommendations."

Source: Straub, Noelle. "Report finds 'fiscal diligence'." Helena Independent Record June 2, 2007.

U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007

From the Washington Post: "Congress sent President Bush a new Iraq funding bill yesterday that lacked troop withdrawal deadlines demanded by liberal Democrats, but party leaders vowed it was only a temporary setback in their efforts to bring home American troops."

The Congress passed H.R. 2206, "U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007," yesterday with Senate vote 181 (80 yeas, 14 nays, 6 not voting). You can find the text of the bill and details on all the changes and votes the bill went through on THOMAS.

In addition to funding for the war in Iraq, the bill includes a minimum wage increase, emergency funding for the Secure Rural Schools Program and wildland fire management (within the "Forest Service" section in Title V), and many other smaller provisions.

Sources: Murray, Shailagh. "Congress Passes Deadline-Free War Funding Bill: Measure Includes Benchmarks for Iraqis." Washington Post May 25, 2007. A01.
Labaton, Stephen. "Congress Passes Increase in the Minimum Wage." New York Times May 25, 2007.
Daly, Matthew. "Congress extends money for timber counties." Missoulian May 25, 2007. A10.