Krivacek takes over challenge as district ranger in Butte area

By Nick Gevock of The Montana Standard - 06/10/2008

Janet Krivacek

Western Montana may be remote by most people’s standards.

But for Janet Krivacek, the new Butte district ranger for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, the area is more populated than her previous post with the U.S. Forest Service.

Krivacek came from Chadron, Neb., a town of 5,200 residents that served as the headquarters for the Nebraska National Forest and was by far the largest city for miles around.

That means the 51-year-old will likely deal with a few more people at the door of the Butte office, said Jack DeGolia, Beaverhead-Deerlodge spokesman.

“Butte’s our smallest ranger district, but it’s the office where we have the most public contact,” he said. “It’s one of those deals where size doesn’t equate to how busy the district is.” The Butte area not only has a lot of people using the national forest, it also has more homes built among and close to forests that can be threatened during wildfires.

Protecting them will be a major focus for Krivacek in coming years, DeGolia said.

But she’s not new to the mountains and the issues that confront western Montana. Krivacek spent 13 years working on the Lolo National Forest out of Missoula. She’s climbed her way up in the agency, including experience on six different forests working in firefighting, timber sales and range management before moving on to become staff for the forest supervisor in Nebraska.

Her broad experience in the agency is well suited to the challenges facing the district in coming years. She said the issue of dead and dying forests in western Montana will be crucial.

“It will be a big part of the program for this district for the next few years,” Krivacek said recently during an interview in her Butte office.

Krivacek said the work required to protect those homes and buildings built in the timber will involve more than removing dead trees. The trees that are still alive but situated right next to homes also have to be removed to create space around structures because in a fire they’re fuel too.

“Homeowners need to think about the green trees around their homes,” she said.

An important task in the district will be getting out and educating people about those fire protection issues, Krivacek said. And it will involve bringing a wide array of interests to the table to discuss forest health.

Krivacek said as an avid outdoorswoman, she’s happy to be back in western Montana where she can enjoy the rivers and mountains.

“I’m just excited to be here,” she said. “The Beaverhead-Deerlodge will be a great place to work.” Krivacek replaces Steve Egeline, who retired last year.

Reporter Nick Gevock may be reached at nick.gevock@mtstandard.com.