COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Clear skies and sunshine beckoned hikers, bikers and swimmers to the Tubbs Hill area this holiday weekend, but trails will be temporarily closed starting Tuesday as crews work on the area’s second round of fire mitigation efforts.
Workers are taking down dead trees and clearing dry brush ahead of fire season because the fire danger won’t remain low for long.
“It’s all part of a process of a bigger, long-term management of the vegetation on the hill. If we just let it go naturally, it’s just going to fields are going to accumulate and the fire risk gets higher and higher,” said Steven Bloeder, forester with Inland Forest Management.
The work began last year and is funded by a federal grant. This nuanced work requires careful planning and detailed knowledge of plants and trees native to the area.
Before chainsaws come out, trees and vegetation are categorized. A white line means the tree needs to come down. Red flags hang on bushes to be cleared. But pink flags protect vegetation that is essential to the habitat of Tubbs Hill.
After that categorization process, crews work quickly to complete the clearing.
Visitors this weekend heard the sound of chainsaws ringing through the trees as workers prepared for the upcoming closures. Bloeder posted signs along the trails warning hikers about the temporary closure starting Tuesday, May 26th.
“We’re getting the last few pockets that we think are higher risk,” Bloeder said. “It’ll probably only last a few days. And we’re mainly working on the east side. And there’s a small area on the west side that will be doing.”
But foresters and nature enthusiasts say the temporary closures are worth the inconvenience.
Hiker Cliff Ray, who was walking his dogs when he heard the chainsaws, understands the importance of the maintenance work.
“It’s a necessity that you, upkeep it or it’s going to fall apart on you,” Ray said.
The cleared vegetation will be sorted into piles and taken to a location where it won’t pose a fire hazard. When conditions are safe, the material will be burned in November.
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