BLM begins prescribed burning on public lands
Event Description
Medford, Ore. – In order to reduce the threat of wildfire while restoring forest function, the Bureau of Land Management plans to begin prescribed burning in May.
With the increased temperatures, fuels are starting to dry out enough to allow spring prescribed burning operations on about 1,500 acres of Bureau of Land Management-administered lands in southwest Oregon.
“One of the main benefits is improved public and firefighter safety during a wildland fire incident,” said Al Mason, Fire Management Officer at the BLM Medford District. “Local communities and residents will experience reduced fire hazard where adjacent to recent prescribed fire.”
Residents can expect to see smoke in the Applegate Valley, near Grants Pass, and north of Butte Falls. Burning will start about one week after warmer weather sets in. Prescribed burning applies low intensity fire to the forest floor, which reduces the severity of future wildland fires. Prescribed burns are thoroughly planned and require a strict approval process for smoke management, fire safety, and ecological outcomes before professional staff apply fire on the ground.
The Bureau of Land Management Medford District completed 3,700 acres of handpile burning over the winter. Handpile burns are where debris is manually piled up and then burned. The material comes from hazardous fuels reduction projects and commercial timber operations that occur on BLM lands.
Information about prescribed fires can be found at the Rogue Valley Interagency Communication Center’s website: https://orrvc.org/rxfire.shtml.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.