The onset of cool, damp fall weather allows firefighters to initiate pile burning on the Siuslaw National Forest, officials announced.
Starting this week and continuing through the spring, trained firefighting personnel will ignite the slash piles while fire danger is low and monitor them to ensure fire does not spread outside the immediate vicinity.
Burning will be weather-dependent and only occur if conditions are deemed ideal by firefighters. Restoration projects, vegetation management, noxious weed removal and other brush-clearing activities generated the slash piles.
According to the Forest Service, burning is one of the most effective ways to remove non-merchantable woody debris from the forest before it becomes a hazardous fuel in the dry summer months.
Pile burning operations are planned on both Hebo and Central Coast ranger districts. Smoke may be visible from nearby trails, roadways and waterways while the burns are in progress.
Forest Service officials said smoke impacts are expected to be minimal and no area closures are anticipated.
If unsure whether smoke or a fire is from a planned pile burn, the Forest Service recommends that citizens contact their local fire department, county emergency services or a nearby Siuslaw National Forest Ranger Station.
For more information visit www.fs.usda.gov/siuslaw or follow the Siuslaw National Forest Facebook page.