[MCN] U.S. Forest Service releases fire severity maps for Montana and N. Rockies wildfires

[Matthew Koehler]

Hello,

The U.S. Forest Service has just started releasing detailed fire severity
maps for wildfires that burned in the Northern Rockies this year.

The homepage is here: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5627/

Individual maps of some specific fires are here:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/maps/5627/

TAKE HOME MESSAGE FROM THESE MAPS: The 2017 wildfires burned in a mosaic
pattern with lots of unburned and low- to moderate-burn severity. Even high
severity fire is normal, natural and beneficial in these fire-adapated
ecosystems.

SOME EXAMPLES FROM SPECIFIC WILDFIRES:

Only 3% of the acres burned in 45,000 acre Sapphire Complex Wildfires on
Lolo National Forest had soil burn severity measured as "High."

Meanwhile, 78% of acres in Sapphire Complex Wildfires on the Lolo NF had
soil burn severity measured as "Unburned" "Very Low" or "Low."

The vast majority of the lightening-caused Park Creek fire was either
unburned, or burned at low to moderate severity. Senator Daines, Rep
Gianforte and the Montana timber industry blamed this wildfire on a lawsuit
by the Alliance for the Wild Rockies.

More fire severity maps will be posted by the U.S. Forest Service as they
become available, so make sure to check back at this link:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5627/

Cheers,
Matthew Koehler
WildWest Institute
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