|
Mt. Hood National Forest
Forest Service News Release
Pile burning begins on Mt. Hood National Forest
The arrival of cooler weather has allowed firefighters to begin burning piles of slash on Mt. Hood National Forest. Pile burning operations will continue over the next several weeks as conditions allow.
Woody debris, also known as slash, is created from post-fire restoration, fuels management, and vegetation projects. The slash is placed in piles and left to cure for about a year before burning during the wet season to reduce the fire footprint. Allowing time for the vegetative material to dry out means piles burn more efficiently and produce less smoke. Removing these large accumulations of hazardous fuels during the fall and winter months is part of an ongoing effort to reduce wildfire risk.
All prescribed burns are carefully and methodically thought out. Fire personnel consider many factors before burning, including temperature, moisture levels, wind speed and direction, and relative humidity. Before implementing a burn, weather is assessed, a test fire is lit, and its behavior is monitored to determine whether conditions are safe to continue and will meet burn objectives.
Firefighters plan to ignite slash piles along the following roads, focusing first on higher elevations:
East Zone
- Forest Roads 16/1610/1630/1640
- Forest Roads 17/1720/1721/1722
- Forest Roads 27/2710
- Forest Roads 44/4430/4431
- Forest Roads 48/4810/4811/4820/4885
West Zone
- Forest Road 4220
- Forest Roads 45/4545
- Forest Roads 46/4630/4640/4660/4661
- Forest Road 57
- Forest Roads 58/5810
- Forest Roads 63/6330/6340
- Forest Roads 70/7010
Smoke may be visible in the vicinity during ignition operations and for a short time afterward. Fire personnel follow policies outlined in the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan. These guidelines help minimize smoke impacts to visibility and public health.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
|
