File:Moose Fire, Glacier National Park, Suppressed Using Minimum Impact Management Tactics in September 2001 (83f93a91-719e-4f43-867f-1c12e9c8e55b).jpg

Moose Fire 2001, View from Lake McDonald.

In 1991, Glacier National Park updated its Fire Management Plan to allow for the increased use of Wildland Fire Use (fires started naturally, managed for resource benefits) as well as allow for more options in alternative suppression techniques. The 2001 Moose Fire started on the Flathead National Forest to the west of the Park. Aggressive suppression action was taken with all available firefighting resources. The previous effort and planning associated with managing earlier fires was rewarded when the Moose Fire was limited in size, smoke, and possibly resource damage due to heavy suppression tactics that might have been employed. Minimum Impact Management Tactics were utilized on the Moose Fire within the park, resulting in minimal ground disturbance. It may have been a very different situation if the Howling and Anaconda Fires had not previously reduced the fuels and helped reduce the size and slow the fire.

• Keywords: wildland fire use; 2001 moose fire; minimum impact management tactics; Forest fires; (LCSH); Fire management; National parks and reserves -- Montana