Malheur National Forest fall pile burning continues
By Mindy Gould on Monday, November 18th, 2024 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
JOHN DAY, PRAIRIE CITY AND HINES (Released from the U.S. Forest Service)- Pile burning operations will continue the week of November 18th on the Malheur National Forest. Implementation will be dependent on weather conditions. Project areas that are being monitored for potential pile burning, of which will be completed as conditions allow, are:
Blue Mountain Ranger District:
- Hunt Pile Unit, in the Galena Project Area, located off Forest Road 2614 near Davis Creek (120 acres)
- Mars Pile Unit, in the Starr Project Area, located off Forest Roads 4955 and 844 near Geary Creek (42 acres)
- Orbit Pile Unit, in the Starr Project Area, located off Forest Road 4955 near Murderers Creek and Percival Creek area (74 acres)
- Pluto Pile Unit, in the Starr Project Area, located off Forest Road 333 near Windfall Creek and Highway 395 (326 acres)
- Tin Pile Unit, in the Galena Project Area, located off Forest Road 2055 near Windless Creek and Little Boulder Creek (105 acres)
- Twin Pile Unit, in the Galena Project Area, located off Forest Road 2010 near Vincent Creek (17 acres)
- Crown Pile Unit, grapple and landing pile in the Crown Timber Sale, located off Forest Roads 3600, 3640 and 3670 near Four Corners, Dixie Meadows and Balance Spring. (2700 acres)
Emigrant Creek Ranger District:
- Brewer Piles, in the Flat Project Area, in between Forest Road 37/3765 (72 acres)
- Gold Hill Piles, in the Flat Project Area, in between Forest Road 3765/3145/3140 (39 acres)
- Hop Piles, in the Dove Project Area, in between Forest Road 31/3170/3160 (435 acres)
- Myrtle Piles, in the Flat Project Area, in between Forest Road 31/37/3770 (175 acres)
The piles are concentrations of leftover woody materials associated with vegetation management activities conducted to help maintain and restore forest and ecosystem health while reducing hazardous fuels. Removing these large accumulations of hazardous fuels during the fall and winter months are a part of an ongoing effort to reduce wildfire risk.
Pile burning implementation is weather dependent and will be conducted only under appropriate conditions to ensure safety. These conditions include temperature, wind, fuel moisture, and smoke weather forecast. When all these criteria are met, firefighters implement, monitor, and patrol the burn to ensure it meets forest health and public safety goals including air quality.
For additional information about the Malheur National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/malheur or call the Supervisor’s Office at 541-575-3000.
