Forest Service reports active fires and mutual‑aid staffing; prescribed‑fire prep and interagency support continuing

A Forest Service district representative updated the board on regional fire activity. The district has several active incidents — including a Type‑2 and Type‑1 team response on a roughly 300‑acre fire near Katy Creek and additional Type‑3 responses — and the agency has used severity crews and task forces from other states to assist initial attack and prescribed‑fire unit preparation.

The representative said crews from Missouri and West Virginia were assigned as severity resources; the Forest Service tasked a contractor dozer and engine group to do prescribed‑fire unit prep work while on severity assignment, which allowed the district to accomplish fuel‑reduction and line preparation work that would otherwise wait until contractors could be scheduled. The speaker said that practice increases preparedness for the fall burn window.

The district is also reviewing public comments on the Buckhorn project; staff said there were about 20 substantive comment letters, with a mix of critical and supportive responses. The Forest Service will digest and respond to comments and note if any raised issues require changes to the environmental review.

Why it matters: Active incidents and staffing from other regions affect local fire resources and long‑term preparedness. The district’s use of severity crews for prescribed‑fire prep is a way to gain productivity during lulls in fire activity.

Next steps: The Forest Service will continue suppression and prescribed‑fire preparations, respond to Buckhorn project comments and coordinate with county partners on contractor workshops and mutual‑aid arrangements.