Fire crews on the Siuslaw National Forest could begin burning slash piles as early as next week with the work expected to continue into spring as weather allows.
The U.S. Forest Service announced Thursday that the arrival of cooler, wetter fall conditions has opened the window for pile burning, which crews carry out when fire danger is low. Operations are planned on both the Hebo and Central Coast ranger districts.
Closer to Philomath, firefighters have also prepared a 1-acre prescribed burn in the grassy meadow next to the parking lot at the Marys Peak Day Use Area. A date for that burn has not been set, and the Forest Service said details will be posted on the Siuslaw National Forest website once one is determined.
The piles are made up of woody debris left over from restoration work, vegetation management, removal of non-native invasive plants and other brush clearing. According to the Forest Service, burning is among the most effective ways to get rid of material that has no commercial value before it dries out and becomes hazardous fuel during the summer fire season.
Trained fire personnel will light the piles and stay to monitor them to keep the fire from spreading beyond the immediate area. The agency said burns will proceed only when conditions are right with the safety of firefighters and the public as the top priority.
People using nearby trails, roads and waterways may see smoke while burns are underway, though the Forest Service expects impacts to be minimal. No closures are expected, but the agency recommends checking the Siuslaw National Forest alerts webpage for updates.
Anyone unsure whether smoke or flames are coming from a planned burn can call the local fire department, county emergency services or a nearby Siuslaw National Forest ranger station.