Field Trip To Horse Gulch Fire Area Will Demonstrate How Active Forest Management Protects Communities
Author: Chiara Cipriano, USDA Public Affairs Officer
Helena, Mont., September 12, 2025 – The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest is offering a field trip opportunity on September 18 to the Horse Gulch Fire footprint to show how fire prevention work, implemented before the fire, protected communities.
The tour will depart from York Community Park (about 20 miles northeast of Helena) around 6 p.m. and is anticipated to conclude around 7:30 p.m. on the south end of Jimtown Road.
The Horse Gulch Fire burned more than 15,000 acres northeast of Helena during the summer of 2024. A year later, abundant signs of renewal on the land are already visible, where past active management took place. This car tour and short hike (less than ½ mile) will offer a firsthand look at the powerful impact of years of active forest management.
Participants will explore areas where the Forest Service has installed strategic fuel breaks to reduce wildfire risk. These breaks have not only enhanced safety for firefighters but also significantly altered fire behavior, providing critical protection for homes and communities at risk.
Hear from Forest Service specialists in fuels and fire management as we explore this fascinating landscape and learn how the forest-wide prescribed fire project will affect the way future fires move across the land.
To participate, please RSVP by September 17 at 5 p.m. by emailing Chiara Cipriano at chiara.cipriano@usda.gov.
Questions about this car tour and hike can also be directed to the Helena Ranger District at (406) 449-5201. Group size is limited to 20 participants.
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PhotoCredit: USDA
Image 1 Caption: Logo
Image 2 Caption: Example of a treated unit under the Jimtown Project (thinning, pile burning and broadcast burning), 11 months after the Horse Gulch Fire. Note the green canopies and native grasses present.
Image 3 Caption: Example of an area after the Horse Gulch Fire where no prior fuels work occurred. Note the high burn severity with no surviving trees.
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