USFS announce Fall pile burning

COEUR d’ALENE – Districts across the Idaho Panhandle National Forests will be conducting pile burning in the coming weeks. Cool, wet conditions and impending winter weather in the mountains have prompted an early start for burning piles. Machine and hand-piled slash will be burned for hazardous fuels reduction and to prepare for under burning in the spring.

Slash piles are associated with post-fire salvage harvest, fuel break construction during wildfire, and unit prep for landscape-scale prescribed fire. In some cases, firefighting personnel will be 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. For questions on proposed activities in your area, please contact your local ranger station.