Fall pile burning to begin soon

Districts across the Idaho Panhandle National Forests will be conducting pile burning in the coming weeks, according to U.S. Forest Service officials.

Cool, wet conditions and impending winter weather in the mountains have prompted managers to start burning piles this week, officials said in a press release. Machine and hand-piled slash will be burned to reduce hazardous fuels on the landscape and to prepare for under burning and planting next year.

Slash piles are associated with timber harvest, fuel break construction during wildfires, and unit prep for landscape-scale prescribed fire. Activity will begin with the Coeur d Alene River Ranger District burning landing piles in the vicinities of Deception Creek and Beaver Creek, with work progressing across the forest so long as weather and smoke dispersion are conducive to burning. In some cases, firefighting personnel will be working behind gates and on closed roads. This burning activity should have minimal, localized smoke impacts, and will not interfere with visitors traveling on open motorized National Forest System roads and trails.

Hunters are encouraged to plan ahead and be aware that if slash piles are located in the area, prescribed fire activity may occur at any time. Visitors are reminded to avoid walking through burned slash piles as heat may remain in the ground and could pose hazards even after flames are gone. For questions on proposed activities in your area, please contact your local ranger station.