*In addition to the above unites, Tofte and Gunflint Ranger Districts combined plan on burning 100 acres for wildlife openings and another 100 acres for various pile burning. The LaCroix Ranger District has one more potential oak-blueberry burn (Deer Farm) at 122 acres.

Total planned acres: 8,089

Completed acres this year: 1,965

Remaining up-to acres: 6,124

Definitions:

Underburn-A low intensity fire that burns beneath the canopy of live trees. The understory materials that would be consumed include small down, dead, woody material and live forbs, shrubs and seedlings. Some live mature trees may be burned, but the intent is to maintain the forest canopy.

Broadcast Burn-Prescribed burning activity where fire is applied generally to most or all of an area within well-defined boundaries for reduction of fuel hazard, as a resource management treatment; or both burn intensity varies throughout the treatment unit depending on vegetation, fuels, and topography. These burns create a new stand in the young age class. However, unburned areas or lightly burned areas within the unit may be common.

Site preparation burn- A broadcast burn applied across a harvest unit. Harvest slash is consumed to reduce fuel hazards to acceptable levels, while duff and brush competition is reduced to acceptable levels to promote successful regeneration.

Pile burn-Burn piles of operator slash after harvest or piles as a result of hand piling.

Mosiac-Burn intensity various throughout the treatment unit depending on vegetation, fuels, and topography, creating a mosiac pattern in the unit.

During active burning, smoke and flames may be visible from roads and areas near the burn unit. Smoke may settle in low areas in the evening hours; however, ignition days and times will be adjusted to avoid smoke sensitive areas. If you have health problems that may be aggravated by smoke, please contact your nearest District Office to talk to a fire management officer. Affected individuals will be notified of prescribed fires that are conducted on National Forest System lands in their vicinity the day of the burn.

Benefits of prescribed burning as a forest management tool:

• Protects communities and infrastructure by reducing hazardous fuels and the risk of high intensity wildfires.
• Improves and supports wildlife habitat for many species on the forest including kestrel, woodcock, moose, white tail deer, black bear, meadow vole and the rare Nabokov blue butterfly.
•  Limits the spread of invasive plant species and maintains native ecosystems.
• Promotes the growth of trees, plants, and wildflowers, and the wild blueberry crop.
• Continues the historic fire regime of frequent disturbance by fire.
• Preserves a cultural activity of indigenous Treaty Bands in this area.

For safety of our pilots and firefighters, we ask everyone to refrain from using drones in fire areas. Remember, when you fly, we cannot. Please, keep drones away from wildfires!

For more information about the status of prescribed fires or the Superior fire program, please visit the Superior National Forest website, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates.

If you have questions about planned burns on the Kawishiwi, La Croix or Laurentian districts, please call (218)248-7240. For questions about planned fires on Tofte or Gunflint districts, please call (218)387-1750.