CSKT Division of Fire

05/30/2026

The CSKT Division of Fire is monitoring a fire in the McDonald Lake area. The Valentine Creek Fire is located 6 miles NE of St Ignatius MT, mid slope in the Mission Mtn’s (5400’) burning a single tree from a lightning strike. The size of the fire is 1/10-.25 acre. The fire has shown no spread. The fire area is forecasted to receive significant precipitation over the next 72 hr period.

05/19/2026

Last week the Division of Fire participated in the 39th Annual 2026 River Honoring Event. This two day event has 20 stations, focused on education for over a 1,000 Western Montana 4th and 5th-grade students through cultural, biological, and stewardship-based activities.

05/12/2026

The Division of Fire would like to make the public aware that the Missoula Smoke Jumpers will be completing proficiency jumps, today in the Sloan’s Bridge area preparing for the 2026 wildfire season.

If you have additional questions please contact the Division of Fire at 676-2550.

05/11/2026

The Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Division of Fire Fuels Program will be conducting a prescribed burn today, Monday, May 11. The Rx burn is located in the Alder Ditch area, 5 miles northwest of Lonepine, MT. This burn is approximately 50 acres.

A. Resource Objectives:
1. Restoration of the non-lethal fire regime, woodland and park-like forest structures through prescribed fire activities.
2. Provide for forest health with maintenance burning.

B. Prescribed Fire Objectives:
 Retain greater than 85% of the overstory Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir trees equal to or greater than 6-inch dbh.
 Retain greater than 60% of the pole-size Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir trees equal to or greater than 2-inch dbh and less than 6-inch dbh.
 Achieve greater than 40% mortality in all Ponderosa Pine and Douglas Fir seedlings and saplings less than 2-inch dbh.
 Achieve 60% or greater fire coverage across areas burned.

04/30/2026

https://www.kpax.com/news/western-montana-news/cskt-division-of-fire-details-aerial-firefighting-resources-proceedures

Ahead of this fire season, MTN got an inside look at the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes helitack base in Ronan.

04/30/2026

The Division of Fire and Ronan Rural Fire Department participated in the Role Model Readers breakfast with William K. Harvey Elementary this morning.

04/26/2026

Spring burning by permit season starts Friday, May 1. To burn from May 1 to June 30 you will need a burn permit. You can apply for one at the Division of Fire website; cskt.org/division-of-fire/ Burn permits will be available on-line starting Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Burning is a great way to clear dead vegetation and clean up. Before you light your piles or grass this spring, take the necessary precautions to ensure your burn does not become the next wildfire. Careless debris burning is one of the main causes of wildfire on the Flathead Indian Reservation.

If you intend to burn, have in place:
• A current weather forecast for your local area
• Water source (such as a hose, buckets, pond or lake)
• Fire tools or equipment depending on the size of your burn
• Enough help to respond in the event that fire behavior increases.

CAUTION
Burn early in the day and check the weather for the afternoon or next day wind conditions. Do not burn when high or erratic winds are forecast or dry conditions prevail. Have proper personnel, equipment, & water supply with you and always make sure the area is cold to the touch before leaving. Checking the following day is also important as stumps or roots may be holding heat that could re-ignite.
If a fire does get out of control call 911 immediately.

Remember you are responsible for any and all suppression, property costs if your fire escapes your control.

If you have any questions about debris burning call the Division of Fire at 676-2550.

Our mission is to enhance the quality of life, promote economic opportunity and protect and improve the trust assets.

04/09/2026

The Division of Fire, fire crew had an annual chain saw refresher class this week. The weather was great and the training went very well.

04/09/2026

The Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Division of Fire Fuels Program will be conducting a prescribed burn Thursday, April 9. The Rx burn is located just north of Two Eagle River School in Pablo, MT. This burn is approximately 4 acres. This burn is scheduled for approximately 1:30pm.

A. Resource Objectives:
1. Maintain a park-like forest structure.
2. Reduce needle litter and the threat of wildland fire.

04/09/2026

DOF will try this burn again today!

The Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Division of Fire Fuels Program will be conducting a prescribed burn Thursday, April 9. The Rx burn is located in the Camas Prairie area, 7 miles northwest of Perma, MT. Today’s burn is approximately 75 acres.

A. Resource Objectives:
1. Restoration of the non-lethal portions of the forest through the application of low-intensity prescribed fire.
2. Improve big game browse, plant species health and improve forest stand structure.
3. Reduce the threat of wildland fire to high risk urban interface areas located on the Flathead Reservation.

B. Prescribed Fire Objectives:
🔥Achieve 60% or greater moderate to low intensity surface fire coverage across areas burned.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this notice, please contact Division of Fire at 676-2550.