USFS Controlled Burns Continue in The Gorge Today

Pictured: Forest Service Fire Crew along Courtney Road on October 9th, 2020 11:30 AM.

The US Forest Service CRGNSA in collaboration with Oregon Department of Forestry and Washington Department of Natural Resources will continue with controlled burn efforts today in the area of Courtney Road between Lyle and Bingen. Crews spent the last two days working in the Catherine Creek and Courtney road areas to create fuel line breaks to prevent large forest fires and to restore Oregon White Oak habitat.

“These burns are dual purpose,” said Walter Vicente, USFS Burn Boss Type 2. “We don’t just come out here to burn, this is a multi-agency plan. There is a lot of planning that goes into this to make sure that we are meeting our objectives.” Those objectives include the health and safety of crew, communities, and ecosystems. Crews perform small test burns first, to confirm weather conditions and fuel burnability before completing larger burns. This year they have coronavirus objectives as well to contend with. “When we brief we do social distance and we do require masks for that.” said Vicente. “We do keep isolated within the modules.”

The wildland and urban land interaction in the Courtney Road area makes these fuel removal efforts important to the safety of homes and firefighters. “We have homes butted up against wildland. Creating a fuel break between people’s homes and wildland helps keep them safe and gives us space to fight fire in the event of a forest fire.” said Vicente. 

The removal of fuels also includes firs and wild cherry trees which are not native to the area. “What can happen is the fir will overshade the Oregon White Oak,” said Vicente. The firs, which were brought in by logging and the wild cherries, which were brought by homesteaders, often outcompete the Oaks and sometimes even the Ponderosa Pine for resources. Removing these invasive species helps restore Native Oregon White Oak habitats and create healthier ecosystems. 

Oregon White Oak habitats have drastically declined, currently occupying only 15% of their historic range. Collectively Native White Oak and associated habitats like savanna and prairie habitats are considered one of the most endangered ecosystems in North America, currently occupying only 2% of their previous range. These habitats are home to over 700 plant species. The acorns from Oregon White Oaks are also an important food source for wildlife. 

Vicente said that today would probably be the last day that the forest service burns. Rain is expected later in the evening which will cause fuels to be too wet to burn. Another USFS crew member said that the larger piles of wood along the Wizard’s Trail will likely be left covered and then burned after a snowfall. 

Weather is one of the most important factors that goes into deciding when burns take place. Some methods of burning forest fuels such as brush, grasses, fallen branches and trees are called pile burning and under-burning. Underburns usually involve at least three agencies and require pre-established control lines and specific habitat objectives.

Roland Rose, Fire Fuels Planner and Battalion Chief, US Forest Service said in an interview that “I’ve heard it said that we are a bit like a dentist that you like, “Sorry that I have to see you...but I’m so happy you’re here.” For those that haven’t had the opportunity to get to know any of our Fire team, know that they have an ingrained interest in the environment, all of them want to see the Gorge become as resilient to the negative effects of fire but they value the safety of other firefighters and the public above all else.”

Contributed Photo. Pictured: October 8th, 2020 View from Mosier, OR of smoke from USFS CRGNSA Forest Service controlled burns.