Announcements

Wildfire Awareness Training Day, June 19, 10am, at Sondreson Hall

With the dry start to our summer, and the forecast for a more active than normal fire season, please plan on attending the Wildland Fire Awareness Training on June 19th.

See the Agenda attached. Join us from 10 a.m. to noon on the 19th to hear about how to accurately size up and report a wildland fire; hear the latest information on grant applications (Wedge Canyon TIP, Proposed Moose-Red Meadow TIP, and Proposed Polebridge Hazardous Fuels Project), and see firefighting products from Gary Mahugh and Northern Rockies Fire.

Summer Solstice Hike

Join the Community at 6.30 pm Friday June 20th for a 3 mile flat hike either to Hidden Meadow or if it is closed, Covey Meadow. Meet at Polebridge Ranger Station. Led by Karin Colby 406 212 4776.

Initial wildland fire potential outlook for 2025

With the fire season starting early this year, it also looks to be a long duration for the Northern Rockies and the Pacific Northwest. Attached is a short four page writeup that explains the forecast for June through September.

The potential for 2025 is similar to the fire years of 2006 (although 2007 was more significant in the Flathead), 2017 and 2021.

What is different this year is that there is no indication of moisture moving in during September – where we usually see either a rainy season-slowing event, or a season-ending rain and snow.

The North Fork has dodged significant fire since 2003. The fires we have had since then have been well-managed and have not had the big runs we saw in 1988, 2001 and 2003.

Be prepared, and hope for the best.

Be sure to attend the Wildland Fire Awareness Training on June 19th, 10 a.m. at Sondreson Community Hall, and the Firewise Day on July 9th, 9:30 a.m. to noon before the Potluck and the Interlocal.

See also: Northern Rockies June July August September 2025 Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook (PDF format)

Issues for the 2025 North Fork Summer Interlocal

Some of the local and agency attendees at the Summer North Fork Interlocal Agreement Meeting on July 10, 2024 – W. K. Walker

In case some of you are North Fork residents/landowners, but are not on the Interlocal mailing list, Here’s a copy of a recent email about submitting local issues and concerns for discussion at the meeting…

Hi, folks.

This year’s Summer 2025 Interlocal  Agreement Meeting is hosted by the North Fork Landowners Association on July 9, 1:00pm, at Sondreson Hall. It is preceded by the annual Firewise meeting at 9:30am and lunch at noon.

For those of you new to this, Interlocal meetings are held twice each year, winter and summer. These semi-annual get-togethers are intended to encourage open discussion between North Fork landowners and neighbors, and local, state and federal agencies. In other words, it’s a big deal if you have an interest in the North Fork.

As a convenience (it’s not required), I’m serving as a central point of contact for issues that North Fork organizations and individuals would like to see addressed by the various government agencies represented at the meeting. If you’ll send me your issues via email to wkwalker@nvdi.com by the afternoon of Wednesday, June 25, I’ll see to it that they get passed on to the various organizations in enough time for them to prepare their presentations.

Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

Bill

Two Bear Air at Sondreson Hall, Sun, June 8, 6:30pm

This Sunday, June 8th, at 6:30pm, Two Bear Air will be present at the NFLA membership meeting! Please join us for a demonstration and discussion at Sondreson Community Hall.

Note on parking: Please park close to the building, or along the North Fork Road. Do not park at the end of the parking lot closest to the road! this will allow room for the helicopter to land.

North Fork Road Trash Pick Up Competition, June 6 – June 13

Get out and pick up trash along the North Fork Road during the week of June 6 – 13!

Drop your 13 gallon black bags off at Home Ranch Bottoms (HRB) to be collected and tallied and taken to the landfill. HRB has extra bags if you need them. Check here or on the North Fork Facebook page for tallies. $25 gift certificate to HRB to  be presented to the top collector at the Last Friday Pizza Party on June 17.

For more information, contact Home Ranch Bottoms at (406) 888-5572 or on Facebook or Instagram. Or just drop by their place at 8950 North Fork Road.

First Aid/CPR/AED Course coming up Tuesday, May 20

First Aid SignageBob Lee will be giving his well-regarded First Aid/CPR/AED class in the North Fork again this spring. The class offers two-year AHA certification in First Aid, CPR and AED usage.

(Note: Due to popular request, this edition is for people who have taken the course before, but need to re-certify their skills. If you’ve never taken the class or it has been a long time since you did so, you should sign up for the July 22 session.)

The course starts at 9:00am and should wrap up just after lunch (although it could be a little earlier). The date is Tuesday, May 20. Cost is $45/person. The course will be held at Sondreson Hall. Bring your own lunch and drinks. Class size is limited to 10 people.

Contact Bill Walker, 406-407-2764 or wkwalker@nvdi.com to sign up for the course.