Astoria, Ore. – As wildfire season approaches, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has announced plans to begin controlled burns in parts of the Willamette National Forest to reduce fuel loads and help prevent future wildfires.
Starting the week of April 21, USFS officials will initiate prescribed fire operations in two key areas: the High Timber sale area on Dead Mountain, located northwest of Oakridge and Westfir, and three units on Buckhead Mountain, north of Oakridge and Westfir. The purpose of these controlled burns is to reduce the accumulation of dead vegetation and other fuels that could exacerbate the spread of wildfires during the summer months.
According to USFS officials, the burns will only take place if weather conditions are favorable, ensuring that fire crews can safely control the operations. The Forest Service’s fire staff will closely monitor the weather before beginning any burn and will cancel the operations if conditions are deemed unsafe.
Residents of Oakridge and Westfir should be prepared for potential smoke in the area during the prescribed burn activities. The USFS stressed that controlled burns are an important tool in wildfire prevention, as they help create defensible spaces around communities and reduce the risk of larger, uncontrollable wildfires as summer temperatures rise.
The Forest Service frequently conducts prescribed burns across various regions of the Willamette National Forest as part of its broader wildfire management strategy. These operations aim not only to protect lives and property but also to maintain the health and biodiversity of the forest ecosystem.
As the agency continues its efforts to manage forest health, USFS officials remind the public that controlled burns are essential in minimizing the risk of more destructive wildfires in the future.
For further updates on prescribed burn operations, residents are encouraged to stay informed through official U.S. Forest Service channels.
