Controlled burns set for Monday at Crater Lake
Herald and News
Klamath Falls, Oregon
June 16, 2002
Crater Lake National Park plans to begin a controlled burn
Monday.
About 32 acres will be burned over a two- to four-day period in
the ponderosa pine/mixed conifer forest in the southwest corner
of the park.
The prescribed fire, designated the PH-3 project, is being used
for a research project. Four- to eight-acre blocks will be
burned under a variety of conditions.
This week's burning will be part of the "wet spring" conditions
and be followed by "dry spring" burning in coming weeks.
Information from the burns will allow park resource managers to
refine treatments and better meet the objectives of ecosystem
restoration and hazardous fuel reduction.
The PH-3 project is also a priority treatment area for hazardous
fuel reduction and ecosystem restoration.
Park spokesmen said aggressive fire suppression over the last
100 years has allowed the encroachment of shade-tolerant trees
and has created an unnatural accumulation of fuel. The change
has increased the risk of intense wildland fires that jeopardize
the safety of fire fighting personnel, park visitors, and
old-growth ponderosa pine forests.
Smoke from the PH-3 fire will be visible from the Upper Klamath
Lake area and may cross Highway 62 near the south entrance to
the park. Traffic will be controlled near the burn area and may
be shut down for short periods of time.
Nighttime smoke may settle into the Fort Klamath area.
Although the greatest impacts from smoke will occur during the
ignition of the burns, some smoldering of fuels will continue to
produce small amounts of smoke for about a week.
Park spokesmen said all prescribed fires in the park will follow
National Park Service policies and be conducted with regard for
public and fire fighting safety.
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