Federal Land Managers Preparing to Begin Spring Prescribed Burning Operations
With gradually increasing temperatures, forest fuels are starting to dry out enough to allow spring prescribed burning operations to commence on federal lands in southwest Oregon.
The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest said these conditions allow for safe burning operations where the primary objective is protect communities from wildfire threat while restoring forest resiliency.
Forest officials said additional burns will continue through the spring as weather conditions allow. Residents can expect to see smoke in the Ashland area and the Applegate Valley, in the Waters Creek area near Grants Pass and the Willow Lake area, with some burning units of up to 350 acres planned to start approximately one week after warmer weather sets in.
In the meantime, the Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management has started to burn units in the lower elevations.
Officials said prescribed burns are thoroughly planned and require a strict approval process for smoke management, fire safety and ecological outcomes before staff light any fire on the ground.
Burn ignition times generally start between 10 and 11 a.m., with signage posted on roadways as needed. All burns will be patrolled by fire management personnel until determined secure with the understanding that there is always an element of risk with fire.
Some of the planned burns on federal lands will include a supervised opportunity for the participants in the Rogue Basin Prescribed Fire Training Exchange.
