Fire Mitigation Efforts Ongoing At Pines
In an ongoing effort to curb fire hazards at the Pines Recreational Area, project leader Bob Hanson, area volunteers and members of state and local agencies put many days of work into preventative measures.
“We have removed tons of juniper out here and hopefully made it safer for the cabins in case of fire,” said Hanson.
Hanson spoke to the Northern Plains Independent June 28. He said that the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation has helped fund the ongoing project for the past six years.
He said Cam Friede, Mike Olson, Anthony Wall, Damian Mathison, Carson Gorton, Jeremy Aaberge, Jamie Orr, Mike Rennick and Michael Hover were active June 26-27.
“I’ve spent $35,000 this year on the project,” said Hanson. “We have done work on nine cabin sites this year. I have a two-year $325,000 grant from DNRC Forestry Health.”
Theresa Stone, Maria Sugg Aaberge, Jeremy Aaberge and Michael Hover helped with mitigation efforts over Father’s Day weekend. The first effort of the season kicked off June 6.
Future fire mitigation plans at the Pines includes cleaning 20 of 26 camping sites, additional areas around the cabins and along the roadway.
Hanson said partners in the project include Pines cabin owners, Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, Bureau of Land Management, DNRC, Valley County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
