2013 marks the tenth anniversary of the Wedge Canyon Fire, which destroyed seven homes and twenty-nine outbuildings in the area between Whale Creek and Trail Creek. 54,400 acres burned. The costs of suppressing the fire and protecting structures exceeded $50 million. The NFLA’s Fire Mitigation Committee is planning a FireWise Day workshop to recognize the tenth anniversary of the Wedge… Read more →
The North Fork’s FireWise Community status has been renewed for another year, based on our activities in 2012. The North Fork has been a FireWise member for eight years, making us one of the longer-standing programs.
In 2012, the DNRC awarded the North Fork community a hazardous fuels reduction grant. It’s the third such grant that the community has received; well over 100 North Fork landowners have participated in the program. Monies are distributed on a cost-share basis, with the grant providing 75% of the cost and the landowner providing the remaining 25%. The total value… Read more →
A good neighbor provided some North Fork history in the way of letters and post cards from the early 1900s. Check it out on the North Fork History Project page.
By all counts, the Winter Interlocal was well attended and informative with a record breaking crowd of around 50. Molly Shepherd was kind enough to compile a report that includes information on road maintenance plans, lynx, trout, and wolves. You can download a pdf version of this report from here.
The North Fork Landowners Association is in the process of applying for a Montana Noxious Weed Trust Fund grant for the 2013 weed season. The grant would reimburse landowners for 50% of the cost of having a commercial applicator spray the weed infestations on their property. Ideally, we are seeking approximately 10 landowners who would like to sign up to… Read more →
Alexander James Kroll selected an interesting historical topic for his Bachelor’s of Arts in Anthropology thesis at the University of Montana… the Polebridge schoolhouse. Alex says that this is the very first schoolhouse that was archaeologically investigated in the state of Montana and only the 5th to be looked out in the West. You not only learn about the Polebridge… Read more →
Following the most destructive fire in Colorado’s history, representatives from the Fire Adapted Communities (FAC) coalition toured Colorado Springs to analyze the Waldo Canyon Fire’s impacts and learn how the community had prepared itself. NFPA’s Fred Durso wrote an account of the team’s visit. Download a copy of “Moving Toward a Fire Adapted Community” (PDF, 3 MB).
As of late August, 2012, fifteen North Fork landowners have signed cost-share agreements under the North Fork’s third hazardous fuels reduction grant. A total of $53,465 has been obligated. The total amount of the grant is approximately $100,000. The Fire Mitigation Committee encourages landowners who are interested in participating in the program to apply. The expiration for the grant is… Read more →
The Fire Mitigation Committee held its annual FireWise Day on July 11, 2012. The theme of this year’s event was “Stewardship, Forest Health and Fuels Reduction on the North Fork.” Presentations focused on how to reduce fuels so as to serve stewardship objectives and achieve a healthy forest. Four North Fork landowners shared their perspectives, with the help of power… Read more →