Spring burning conditions are being evaluated by the Tonasket Ranger District. Fuels specialists are monitoring fuel moisture in accumulated forest debris and assessing weather conditions favorable for burning. This season, prescribed burning is being considered for Schalow Mountain, Mill Creek and the Bannon Mountain area. The spring prescribed fire season on the Tonasket Ranger District is likely to begin in mid-April and continue through the month of May. Schalow Mountain burning will only occur in the month of March, if conditions permit.
Prescribed burning is one of the tools used to reduce existing forest fuel accumulations in an effort to reduce wildfire potential, and improve forest health. The prescribed fire program is intended to improve the
safety of the public and wildland firefighters, minimize the size and intensity of wildfires, and create healthy forested habitats.
“Smoke created from prescribed fire is significantly shorter in duration and carries far fewer irritants than wildfire”, said Jen Croft, Fuels Specialist for the Tonasket Ranger District. “Prescribed burning will
not begin until smoke dispersal and weather conditions are favorable, and burn plan objectives can be accomplished.”
The District’s prescribed fire program emphasizes addressing forest fuel accumulations and wildfire potential in areas of the National Forest nearest private lands and those lands managed by other agencies. Lower to mid-valley elevations are of highest concern.
“Each element that affects the success of a prescribed fire plan is evaluated prior to ignition. Smoke dispersal and minimization of smoke impacts to public health are of primary concern”, said Mark Morris, Tonasket District Ranger. “Monitoring weather conditions, long term forecasts, forest fuel moistures, and neighboring prescribed fire activity are all part of the evaluation process”.
For more information about prescribed burning activity, please call Tonasket Ranger District at 509-486-2186.
© Copyright 2006 by North Cascades Broadcasting, Inc
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