Prescribed burning planned near the Imnaha River 13 miles north of Oxbow

IMNAHA – (Release from the U.S. Forest Service) The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest plans to conduct a prescribed broadcast burn on the Puderbaugh Project located east of the Imnaha river near Blackhorse and Ollokot Campgrounds within Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.

This area is along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway (NFS Road 39) and Dry Creek Road (NFS Road 3962) approximately 13 miles north of Oxbow and 30 miles south of Imnaha.

Specific goals of this burn are to reduce surface fuel loading, reduce stand densities or number of trees, reduce ladder fuels, increase the canopy base height, and reintroduce fire back into the system under non-wildfire conditions.

This burn could occur as early as Thursday 9/26 and last up to 4 days depending on weather and fire behavior. The burn unit is 3000 acres in total.

Visitors can expect smoke to be visible from surrounding communities and potential delays in the area as fire personnel are working. We are asking the public not to camp at the Ollokot and Black Horse campgrounds and to use an alternate route to Dry Creek Road if possible as this is where the longest delays are expected.

Not all conditions are suitable for fire growth and spread. During moderated conditions, active wildfires may be burning during the same time as conditions are appropriate for prescribed fire

For more information on how prescribed fire is an essential tool for reducing the risk from wildfire on public lands, visit our website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/wallowa-whitman/fire

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Elkhorn Media Group