Photo: NPS

From the Superior National Forest - October 30, 2020

The U.S. Forest Service has decided to resume prescribed fire operations with select pile burning across the Superior National Forest beginning at the end of October 2020. 

There are approximately 2,000 acres of unburned piles across the entire Forest.  800 of these acres are byproduct from timber harvest, and 1,200 acres include understory vegetation from fuel reduction treatments or previous weather events.  The Forest will remain flexible to local conditions and concerns in determining pile burning schedules and frequency throughout the fall and winter.

“Pile burning is one form of prescribed fire that the Superior National Forest uses to reduce future catastrophic wildfire damage to the land and surrounding communities,” said Brian Jenkins, Fuels Specialist on the Superior and Chippewa National Forests. Piles are made up of unmerchantable timber and dense flammable vegetation.  Using fire in a safe and controlled way can prevent future large uncontrollable fire events.  The Superior also uses fuel treatments (removal of dense vegetation) and prescribed fire to encourage new growth of native plants and improve wildlife habitat.  For example, critical moose habitat depends on forest openings with new young growth available as forage. 

As the winter season draws near, wildland fire risks are dramatically reduced.  Potential effects on air quality are assessed prior to any prescribed burn to reduce smoke impacts on the local area.  In light of the prescribed burning pause earlier this year, Superior National Forest has taken additional steps to ensure that prescribed burning efforts are communicated to the public and partners, that smoke is managed to a high degree, and that a risk management process incorporating COVID-19 related concerns is fully developed for each prescribed fire request.  

The Forest offices are available by phone from 8-4:30 Central Time, seven days a week.  Please visit us at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/superior/home for all visitor updates.  You can also follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SuperiorNF or contact us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SuperiorNF/

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