Mt. Hood National Forest Gears Up for Fall Slash Pile Burning
From Mt. Hood National Forest- US Forest Service:
Mt. Hood, OR. October 13, 2023 - Mt. Hood National Forest fire personnel plan to begin burning piles of slash this fall season. If weather and moisture levels remain favorable, pile-burning operations could begin as early as October 16 and continue through the next several weeks as conditions allow.
Woody debris, also known as slash, is created from post-fire restoration, fuel management, and vegetation projects. The slash is placed in piles and left to cure before burning during the wet season to reduce the fire footprint. Allowing time for the vegetative material to dry out will produce less overall smoke as the piles burn hot and clean.
All prescribed burns are carefully and methodically thought out. Fire personnel consider many factors before burning, including temperature, moisture levels, wind speed and direction, and relative humidity. Before implementing a burn, weather is assessed, a test fire is lit, and its behavior is monitored to determine whether conditions are safe to continue and will meet burn objectives.
Slash piles may be ignited across the Forest throughout the season, primarily along the following roads:
East Zone
Forest Roads 13/1310/1320
Forest Roads 16/1610/1630/1640
Forest Roads 17/1720/1721/1722
Forest Roads 18/1811
Forest Roads 2630/2660
Forest Road 2710
Forest Roads 48/4810/4811/4820/4885
West Zone
Forest Road 4220
Forest Roads 46/4640/4660/4661
Forest Roads 58/5810
Forest Roads 63/6330/6340
Forest Roads 70/7010
This is not a comprehensive list and additional areas with slash piles may be targeted for burning as conditions permit.
Smoke may be visible in the vicinity during ignition operations and for a short time afterward. Motorists should slow down, turn on headlights, and proceed with care if smoke drifts onto the road. Fire personnel follow policies outlined in the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan. These guidelines help minimize smoke impacts to visibility and public health: https://www.oregon.gov/odf/fire/pages/burn.aspx
