East Zone Districts Announce Fall Prescribed Burning Plans

Release Date: Sep 30, 2016

Sandy, OR – The Barlow and Hood River Ranger Districts of the Mt. Hood National Forest will be conducting fall prescribed burns as early as next week and pile burning  later in October.

The planned underburn locations are:

• Shamrock 1, 180 acres (north of the 44 road, between 4430 and 4440)
• Star 3, 103 acres (north of Camp Baldwin off the 4440 road)

Pile burning will take place in various locations throughout both districts and will occur when significant moisture is present. Residents living on the east side of Mt. Hood can expect to see smoke in the air for a few days following ignition. Underburning could begin as early as next week if conditions are appropriate while pile burning generally takes place after a wetting rain. Both types of prescribed burning operations could take place anytime during the next month or so depending on conditions.

These burns are planned to help minimize the potential risk of high intensity wildfire in the affected areas by removing hazardous fuels.

Fire is a natural part of forest ecosystems. By being strategic in planning where, when, and how fire is introduced into areas that are naturally influenced by forest fires, we can meet the needs of the forest’s natural processes while also minimizing potential risk to life or property by removing fuels that could lead to high intensity wildfire.

When people start forest fires through carelessness or other improper use of fire, it puts undue risk to fire fighters, property, and human life. These controlled burns, however, are meant to simulate naturally occurring fire events, and are conducted by highly experienced practitioners and after consulting weather models and much deliberation. There are usually only a couple of times during each year when the weather conditions are right to conduct prescribed burns since they call for weather dry enough for fire to be sustained but cool enough and close enough to a storm system that the fires can be kept under control.

Impacted roads will have personnel working in the vicinity, so we ask the public to be cautious while driving in the areas listed above if smoke is present.

For smoke and fire updates, you can visit our Facebook page or website. You can also call Scott MacDonald, Assistant Fire Management Officer at Barlow Ranger District headquarters, at 541-467-5110 for any related information.