DNRC Fuel Reduction Work Planned Near Virginia City
DILLON, Mont. — The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) Dillon Unit is implementing a fuel reduction project to mitigate wildfire risk on state trust lands near Virginia City.
Work will begin in mid-October and is expected to last up to one year, treating approximately eight acres in the wildland urban interface (WUI). Crews will remove juniper and cut overstocked stands of young, small-diameter Douglas-fir trees. Low density conifer slash will be scattered, while high-density conifer slash will be piled and burned during the winter months, when conditions allow.
This project aligns with the goals of the Montana Forest Action Plan, by reducing wildfire risk and strengthening community protection through active forest management on landscapes adjacent to and within the WUI.
“From a fire suppression perspective, this work enhances firefighter and public safety by reducing fuel loads and minimizing the risk to nearby structures,” said Jay Lemon, DNRC Dillon Unit fire management officer. “By creating defensible space, firefighters are better equipped to contain wildfires while they’re still small.”
The public is asked to avoid active work areas for safety.
DNRC manages Montana’s forested state trust lands to generate long-term sustainable revenue to benefit educational institutions, while promoting healthy, resilient and diverse forests for future generations. Wildfire fuel reduction work is important to protect homes and improve forest health.
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