Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest prescribed fire project to decrease wildfire risk across land

HELENA, July 22, 2025— Today, the USDA Forest Service’s Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest will release a draft decision and final environmental analysis to reduce forest fuels. The Forest-wide Prescribed Fire Project aims to reduce wildfire severity by providing fuels reduction work, increase safety, and give firefighters more flexibility during active wildfire operations.

“This project allows us to implement prescribed fire and mechanical fuels reduction when and where it's needed most,” said Forest Supervisor Emily Platt. “This work will help us better maintain living forests over the long-term, protect communities, increase safety and management options during wildfires, and reduce taxpayer’s cost of managing wildfires.”

Much of the 2.9-million-acre forest is at risk of wildfires that are larger and more intense than they were historically. This is in part due to the current density of trees across the forest — which collectively creates conditions that make many areas susceptible to high levels of mortality, disease, and severe and dangerous wildfires. Communities and firefighters currently face high levels of risk due to these conditions.

The proposed project area excludes Designated Wilderness and Research Natural areas on the forest; it spans 2.3 million acres across seven island mountain ranges and the continental divide. The proposed project allows forest managers to restore the health of our forested ecosystems.

More information can be found on the Forest-wide Prescribed Fire Project webpage.