Prescribed burns could start soon

If the current moisture and weather situation continues to prevail, the Forest Service's prescribed burn program could commence in this area as early as this week.

The areas under consideration for the prescribed burning are among the latest portions of a major forest fuels treatment project along the Santiam Highway corridor.

According to Mark Rapp, Assistant Fire Management Officer for the Sisters Ranger District, forest conditions are suitable for a planned burn that has faced some unusual constraints.

The Forest Service decided to postpone burning the area last spring in order to avoid disrupting goshawks during their nesting season.

Goshawks are whitish and gray-barred birds of prey with a wingspan of nearly four feet. They are relatively uncommon, but are most likely to be found in the northern forests from Alaska to the Cascades.

The target area for the burn is just south of Suttle Lake, near Dark Lake and Camp Tamarack. Much of the forest in that area has already been treated by thinning and burning to remove excess combustible forest fuels.

Rapp wants local residents to be aware that this is a planned burn in case they see smoke billowing from the region.

"This burn will occur only if conditions are in line so we can do it safely," said Rapp. "We may even look at the possibility of evening ignitions."

Rapp said that winds have been calm in the evening and the humidity higher, both of which make the possibility of a nighttime burn a more attractive option. He said that the burn might go ahead as early as Thursday or Friday of this week.

The Dark Lake burn is also in one of the higher elevations to be treated. Lower elevation burns are planned only for later in the season after substantial moisture has arrived.

For example, Rapp said, there are a number of slash piles yet to be burned in the Indian Ford Campground area that will have to wait for later in the season.