July Fire area closed, emergency stabilization underway
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charred standing timber across this entire mountainside east of
Landusky and throughout the area burned by the July Fire in the
Little Rocky Mountains of Phillips County, Montana. The area burned
by the July Fire is closed until further notice due to public safety
concerns. (BLM Photo by Jonathan Moor)
(MALTA, Mont.) – The area burned by the July Fire is closed until further notice due to public safety concerns.
The closure applies to all forms of motorized and non-motorized travel, including foot traffic within the July Fire area of the Little Rocky Mountains in Phillips County, Montana.
Fire weakened roots and limbs on a significant amount of standing timber throughout the burned area. These hazard trees are expected to fall at random times during the foreseeable future, posing a serious safety risk to the American public.
“We will be monitoring this area every few weeks, specifically through the first few large precipitation events to see what kind of hazard tree downfall we have.” said Bureau of Land Management Malta Field Manager Tom Darrington. “This is a place families, friends and neighbors like to recreate, hunt, gather wood and enjoy outdoor activities, so we are interested in reopening the area as soon as possible.”
Soils have also become unstable due to the weakened root structures. Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation efforts are underway to reduce hazardous conditions and prevent soil erosion. In critical areas, crews are placing straw waddles and wood straw mulch. Certain areas are being reseeded with a native seed mix.
“Once the area is reopened, we will be looking for opportunities to work with the local user groups to assist us in clearing trails and making the area safe for public travel once again.”
The BLM is committed to making America great through shared conservation and respects the ties that native and traditional communities have to public lands in the Little Rocky Mountains. As stewards, the BLM manages public lands for the benefit of current and future generations, supporting conservation as we pursue our multiple-use mission.
– BLM –
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.