NORTHERN UTAH, Oct. 7, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) — Planned “slash pile burning events” have been scheduled for select areas across northern Utah in the coming days, including locations near Ogden and Logan, as well as Heber and Kamas, fire officials said Thursday.
“Objectives of these projects are to reduce hazardous fuels along a popular forest road to protect vehicle and pedestrian traffic, reduce negative impacts from wildfire within the Upper Provo Watershed, and improve wildlife habitat,” according to a statement by UtahFireInfo.
“Weather permitting, Heber-Kamas Ranger District fire personnel plan to burn slash piles, created by removing dead hazardous trees, along the Spring Canyon road within a 174-acre area beginning Thursday, Oct. 7.
The slash piles near Iron Mine Road by Soapstone Guard Station are will also be burned with the objective of creating a fire break by eliminating dead and downed lodgepole pine trees in the 330-acre area.
“Smoke may be visible along Mirror Lake Highway. To protect the public and firefighters, the Spring Canyon road may be temporarily closed for short periods of time during operations,” the statement said.
Logan and Ogden Ranger Districts are also planning on burning slash piles in the Red Ryder and Monte Cristo areas, according to a second news release.
Logan Ranger District fire personnel will begin burning 670 acres of slash piles as early as Monday and continue through the winter pending smoke approval and weather conditions. “The piles are a result of a contract that was completed in summer 2020 to improve timber stands and reduce tree densities in the Red Ryder timber sale area.”
Ogden Ranger District fire personnel say they plan on taking advantage of recent rains and cooler temperatures to burn five acres of slash piles near the Monte Cristo guard station next week. “The piles were made by local fire crews because of defensible space thinning and improving the timber stands surrounding the historic Forest Service cabin as part of the Monte Cristo Wildland Urban Interface project.”
Smoke impacts are expected to be light and short lived along U.S. Highway 39.
“Use caution driving in the area, signs will be posted, and personnel will be on scene throughout the day of ignitions.”
Because the slash pile fires are planned events and closely supervised, fire officials say there is no need for people to report the smoke to authorities.
