Prescribed burning to begin in Coos Bay and Roseburg
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NORTH BEND, Ore. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will begin burning slash piles on BLM-managed lands on the Roseburg and Coos Bay Districts this fall, as the agency supports active timber management and forest health in southwest Oregon.
The prescribed burns will occur in a variety of locations on BLM-managed lands in Douglas, Coos and Curry Counties. Residents may see smoke in these areas when burns begin in mid-November. The BLM will continue to burn during safe conditions throughout the winter and early spring.
The prescribed burns are typically 100 acres or less, and provide an opportunity for the BLM to reduce abundant fuels left on the ground after forest management activities, thus reducing the risk of future wildfires. In Curry County, the BLM uses prescribed fire to dispose of tanoak and other vegetation that is infected with Sudden Oak Death. These efforts help stem the spread of the disease.
Prescribed fire operations are planned and carried out by qualified agency firefighters. These professionals coordinate with several agencies to ensure the burns occur during appropriate weather and under safe conditions. The agency makes every effort to burn during conditions that minimize the impact of smoke on local residents. After the burns, fire personnel patrol the area to ensure the fire remains under control and is properly extinguished.
Specific details on where burns will occur in the Roseburg and Coos Bay areas can be found at https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington/prescribed-fire. Those with questions can also contact Kim Valentine, Deputy Fire Staff, West Central Oregon Interagency Fire Management at (541) 464-3372.
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.