District to provide information on planned fall prescribed burning

FAIRFIELD, Idaho — The Fairfield Ranger District staff is planning a long-term fuels reduction effort set to begin on the district this fall and stands ready to answer stakeholders’ questions. 

The effort will include prescribed burning in the 3,743-acre Paradise Prescribed Burn unit, which is located approximately 25 miles north of Fairfield and one-half mile east of The Sawtooth Methodist Camp. 

This work is part of a larger, forestwide effort to reduce hazardous fuels built upon analysis completed in December 2024 with the signing of the Prescribed Fire for Restoration and Hazardous Fuels Project decision.  

The decision, which provides the National Environmental Policy Act foundation for quicker implementation of fuels reduction work, represents a shift in the way the Sawtooth National Forest completes prescribed burning and reaches out to stakeholders when burns are scheduled. 

“Burning is not scheduled until this fall, but, because this work will include prescribed burning adjacent to privately-owned land, we want to give our neighbors ample opportunity to bring forward any questions or concerns they have about the work,” said Fairfield District Ranger Matt Filbert.  

Implementation of prescribed burn plans on the unit will depend on weather conditions. Fuels crews hope to start implementing burn plans Oct. 1 and continue implementation, as conditions allow, over several years. 

Fire suppression efforts in the Paradise area over many years have resulted in hazardous fuel loading and conifer encroachment into aspen stands, resulting in loss of cover and forage for wildlife and increasing the risk for uncharacteristic wildfire.  

The Paradise Prescribed Fire Burn Plan aims to: 

• Restore fire as part of this fire-dependent ecosystem. 
• Create openings for aspens to establish or re-establish. 
• Spur regeneration and reduce conifer encroachment. 
• Improve wildlife habitat by increasing food and cover sources through aspen regeneration. 
• Reduce hazardous fuel loading created through fire suppression. 
• Create fuel breaks to enable firefighters to better protect high value structures in the event of wildfire. 

For additional information about the Paradise Prescribed Burn unit, contact the Fairfield Ranger District at 208-768-3202. 

Additional information about the Prescribed Fire for Restoration and Hazardous Fuels Project can be found on the Sawtooth National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/sawtooth/projects/59503.