Forest Service makes

spring burning plans

With winter snow receding at lower elevations, the Forest Service is making plans for its spring controlled burning in the Sisters Ranger District.

Local foresters are continuing their long term program for reducing fire danger and improving forest health.

"The weather is warming and the skies are clear and dry, so we could be doing some significant burning as early as (this) week," said Mark Rapp, Assistant Fire Management Officer for the Sisters Ranger District.

Due to the lack of recent snowfall, officials were able to conduct burning projects during much of February.

"Over the last three weeks, we've burned almost 400 acres of hand-piles, primarily south of Sisters in the canal project (near Three Creeks Road) and in the area known as Squawback Woods," Rapp said.

Most of the burn piles in and around the Indian Ford Campground have also been burned.

Rapp wants to make sure that residents are aware of the ongoing projects, and he said the Forest Service will do its best to keep people apprised of the progress of the burns.

In the upcoming weeks, much of the burning emphasis will be focused on areas surrounding Black Butte Ranch.

"There's still a significant amount of hand piles left on the south side of the ranch near Graham Corral and on the west side behind the fire station," Rapp said.

"Some of the piles are still a little bit wet. So, as the snow goes off, we'll try to time those burns just right."

Rapp explained that the stacked piles generate quite a bit of heat and the Forest Service normally likes to burn those piles in the fall.

"This past fall, though, it was too dry and then too wet all of a sudden," he said. "So, we'll try to get those before the spring warming."

Since the region is still pretty cool and wet, Rapp said that conditions are not right for general underburning. However, he said they will attempt what is called "jackpot underburning."

For jackpot burns, Forest Service crews look for areas with unusually heavy concentrations of brush or fallen needles that will sustain a localized underburn.

Rapp expects burning to continue at least into early April. He also said that inmate crews will once again be busy cutting and stacking during the spring.

Those piles, however, will not be burned until next fall.

"Some of the work may not be as visible as in the past," he added, "because those sites closest to residential areas have already been done. But there is still more work to be done from a forest health standpoint."

Forest health is an issue because years of fire control have permitted dense new forest growth that limits bio-diversity and leaves some areas vulnerable to fire and insect damage.

Controlled burns simulate a natural fire cycle.