2024 Johnson Fire, Montana
(370 photos)

The Johnson Fire started by lightning July 25, 2024, in the wilderness above the military-veteran community of Springer-Memorial. The fire remained small until late August. The Bitterroot National Forest assigned a Type 4 incident management team (IMT). By early September, more resources were needed, and Type 3 Incident Management Team (NV IMT 1) from Nevada was assigned. Burning operations were in progress about three miles from the community. Many residents were anxious, concerned, in need of relevant, timely information - and reassurance.

A "confinement strategy" was utilized - tactical burning operations along forest roads and bulldozer lines. Going "direct attack" on every foot of a 6,000-acre fire burning in the wilderness is not realistic, cost-effective, or safe. It was fall, with longer nights and cooler weather imminent in the Northern Rockies.

The Bitterroot N.F. supported our public information section and my efforts to visually document firefighters protecting local communities. Fuels-reduction and timber-sale work done by the Bitterroot N.F. in recent decades was invaluable to our structure defense measures, strategy, and tactics. Our information efforts were transparent and avoided obfuscation. Forest managers and residents thanked us.