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Wallowa-Whitman National Forest preparing to start prescribed burning
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The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest will begin spring prescribed burning as snow melts and warmer, drier weather arrives. Forest workers light prescribed fires to accomplish a variety of goals, including: • Reduce dead and down fuels • Selectively thin understory trees in dense forest stands • Stimulate fire-resistant plant species • Enhance forage and browse • Reduce the risk of large stand-replacement fires • Restore fire, under controlled conditions, to areas where natural fires happened often in centuries past Prescribed burns can range from a few acres to several hundred acres. In most areas, prescribed burning is the last of a series of treatments that include logging and cutting of trees too small to be sold to mills. Fire history studies have shown that fire was a dominant natural process in the Blue Mountains, and helped maintain a more open and park-like condition throughout low to mid-elevation forests.Forest officials try to minimize the effect smoke can have on residents. Prescribed fire managers work closely with the Oregon State Smoke Forecast Center in deciding when, where, and how many acres to burn on a daily basis. Officials sometimes postpone prescribed fires when smoke is likely to settle into populated areas such as Baker Valley. “We advise forest users to be aware of burning activities as they travel in the Forest,” said Bret Ruby, the Wallowa-Whitman’s fire management officer. “These activities may temporarily create smoke and increase traffic on forest roads.” The actual burning accomplished this spring will be determined by weather, fuels conditions, and forecasted smoke dispersion. It is estimated that approximately 13,121 acres will be burned on the forest this spring. The prescribed burning projects and locations include: Burnt-Powder Fire Zone – 541-523-4476 (Whitman Ranger District: Baker, Pine, and Unity) Approximately 3,270 acres total • Foothills, in the Baker City Watershed, 300 acres. • Jack and California, Whitney Valley area, 1,000 acres. • Deer, in Sumpter Valley, 520 acres. • Woodtick, north of Unity Reservoir, 300 acres. • Dry Creek, East Pine, and Barnard, in Pine Valley near Halfway, 900 acres. • South Fork of Burnt River, near Unity, 250 acres. Wallowa Fire Zone - 541-426-4978 (Wallowa Valley Ranger District, Hells Canyon NRA, and Eagle Cap Ranger District) Approximately 8,801 acres total • Minam II, west of the Little Minam River, 4,800 acres. • Spooner, Harl Butte area, 2,147 acres. • Fire Ridge, west of Elk Creek and Forest Road 4600, 654 acres. • Baldwin, 15 miles North of Enterprise, 270 acres. • Arroz, 24 miles NE of Enterprise, Summit Ridge area, 930 acres. Grande Ronde Fire Zone – 541-963-7186 (La Grande Ranger District) Approximately 1,050 acres total • Moss Potter, SE of Cove, 150 acres. • Horsefly, 15 miles SW of La Grande, 500 acres. • Dark Meadow, 15 miles W of La Grande, 100 acres. • Bald Angel, 7 miles SE of Medical Springs, 300 acres.
Prescribed burning maps are available on the web at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/w-w/ |
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