Prescribed burn planned for Johnson Lake area

IRONWOOD - The Ottawa National Forest of the U.S. Forest Service on Monday announced plans for a prescribed burn in the Johnson Lake area.

The proposed burn of approximately 350 acres of forested land will occur within the next two weeks in the Kenton Ranger District, east of Bond Falls between Forest Road 530 and Forest Road 4500. The burn is dependent upon weather conditions.

Signs will be posted in and around the area of the burn. At this time it is not anticipated that any roads will be closed, the announcement said.

Prescribed burns make the forests more resilient, create habitat for a diversity of wildlife, and protect communities from future wildfire by reducing accumulated debris that become hazardous fuel, the announcement said. Favorable weather and site conditions are crucial and each burn area requires a different prescription for wind direction and speed, temperature and fuel moistures to proceed.

There are a limited number of days with favorable burning conditions during the year. These burn days are often the days when there is also an elevated wildfire risk.

Firefighters prepare these burn units to take advantage of opportunities when they occur with plan that emphasizes firefighter and public safety. Fire managers prepare site-specific burn plans with control lines and the appropriate equipment to direct the burn.

Utilizing fire as a management tool has inherent risks and Forest Fire personnel meet on site prior to the prescribed burn to ensure that current and forecasted weather conditions will produce appropriate burn conditions. The final decision is made the morning of the scheduled burn when a notice will be placed on the Forest Service web site and Facebook.

Smoke may be visible and linger and drift in the area on the first day of the burn. Firefighter units with engines and a bulldozer will work in the area of the burn until it is extinguished and continue to monitor for flareups or conditions that could reignite a blaze.

For more information, contact the Ottawa National Forest fire staff at 906-358-4551.

-Daily Globe Staff