The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest is preparing to implement the fall prescribed burn program on about 10,000 acres across the forest, according to an Oct. 3 announcement.

Cooler temperatures and rain are expected to provide conditions conducive for fall burning. Prescribed fire managers coordinate daily with the National Weather Service, the Oregon State Smoke Forecast Center, and adjacent National Forests to determine the optimum time and place to implement each burn.

The Wallowa Fire Zone, which includes Wallowa Valley Ranger District, Hells Canyon NRA and Eagle Cap Ranger District, plans to conduct prescribed burning on 3,500 acres this fall, which may include the following burn project: Minam (3,600 acres) west of the Little Minam River; Spooner (1500 acres), Harl Butte area; Hotel (510 acres), 20 miles north of Wallowa; Simmons (115 acres), 20 miles north of Enterprise; Green McCoy (195 acres), Minam River; Baldwin (340 acres), 15 miles north of Enterprise; and Arroz (365 acres), 24 miles northeast of Enterprise in the Summit Ridge area.

For more information about Wallowa Fire Zone burns, call 541-426-4978.

Additional burns are planned in the W-W’s Burnt-Powder and Grande Ronde fire zones.

Each burn project has specific resource and prescribed fire objectives and constraints that guide fire managers in determining whether to proceed with a burn. Objectives of the burns include hazardous fuel reduction, slash removal, big game and other wildlife habitat improvement, and forest ecosystem restoration. Forest Service employees and cooperators will do the burning.

“Firefighter and public safety is our top priority as we implement these burns” says Steve Hawkins, Fuels Program manager. “Smoke management is also a priority as we do not wish to impact our neighbor communities.” However, nearby residents and forest visitors should expect temporary smoke in the vicinity of any prescribed fire activity and drivers should pay extra attention while traveling through or adjacent to burn areas.

Additional details are available on the fire and aviation page of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest website, www.fs.usda.gov/goto/Fire-Aviation, or at any forest office.

Actual acres within a project area may vary depending on fuel conditions, smoke dispersal, and weather conditions and not all proposed burns may be completed this fall since typical weather conditions provide for limited burn windows.

For more information concerning the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest prescribed burning program, call Bret Ruby at 541-523-1415 or Steve Hawkins at 541-523-1262.