The Oregon Dept. of Forestry
issued this news release today.
NEWS RELEASE
May 11, 2016
Contact:
Megan
Ehnle
503-359-7424
Burn conducted on 116-acre
site in Highway 6 corridor
Today the Oregon Department of
Forestry conducted a prescribed burn on a 116-acre site on the Tillamook State
Forest near Browns Camp in the Highway 6 corridor. The burn aimed to remove
woody debris that remained after the recent completion of the Fighting Phellini
Timber Sale.
ODF workers lit the controlled
fire via aerial ignition at 10 a.m. The firing, conducted by a helicopter,
concluded around noon. Department fire engines are standing by at the site,
along with four hand crews from the South Fork Forest Camp, to ensure the burn
does not escape the designated boundaries.
The name of the timber sale refers
to Phellinus weirii, a
disease commonly known as Laminated Root Rot, which afflicts Douglas-fir and
other tree species. The broadcast burn is consuming logging slash and debris
deemed unmarketable due to damage from the disease. ODF will replant the site
with alder trees, which are immune to Laminated Root Rot.
“It was extremely
important to conduct a broadcast burn,” said ODF dispatcher Megan Ehnle. “It is
not only removing fuel on the ground ahead of the wildfire season, but it will
also provide a better landscape to be reforested.”
The large burn
understandably generated concern among local residents, she said. Ehnle thanked
local 911 centers and fire departments for fielding and answering numerous
calls from the public.
In addition to renovating the
harvested site for replanting young trees, the burn operation provided a
training opportunity for ODF personnel that are involved in fighting wildfire
during the summer.
          
Great photo capturing the units consumption and how it is not
effecting the standing timber surrounding the broadcast burn.
Helicopter performing aerial ignition
   |
| Ignition has begun, here is a look at the smoke column it is producing. |
