GLADSTONE — The USDA Forest Service plans to burn vegetation piles in five different areas this winter. Current weather forecasts suggest suitable burning weather may occur in the next several weeks. If conditions are not right, the burns will be postponed until more favorable conditions.

Though unlikely, smoke may settle in some areas during evening hours. If you have health problems that may be aggravated by smoke production, please contact Cory Henry, Zone Assistant Fire Management Officer at (906) 387-2512 ext. 1039, and you will be personally notified prior to any burning activities.

The piles are composed of 6 inch or smaller diameter branches, bases of small trees, and needles left from conifer sales and/or fuel break maintenance on the Hiawatha National Forest. Firefighters will conduct the controlled pile burns to reduce concentrations of slash and to create natural firebreaks by keeping large accumulations of hazardous fuels away from private homes and property boundaries. The piles are located in five areas shown on the map here:

The Runway project is 3 miles north of Camp 7 Lake Campground located off of County Road 442 in T43N, R18W, Section 22. The piles cover approximately 78 acres. In the Runway area, smoke may be visible from Gooseneck Lake and County Road 442 in Delta County. The Runway area the piles are approximately 10’x10’x50′ in size. When lit in the morning, these piles will take the whole day to consume.

The Mike White project is located 2 miles north of County Road 440 and 1 mile east of Forest Road 2258 at T44N, R18W, Section 29. The piles here are approximately 5’x5’x5′ in size scattered over 40 acres. These piles will burn to ash within a few hours of being lit.

The Pine Martin project is located off County Road 440 and Southwest of Triangle Lake at the Pine Martin Run trail head at T43N, R18W, Section 2. The piles are approximately 5’x5’x5′ in size covering an area of 40 acres. These piles will burn to ash within a few hours of being lit.

The South Schaawe project is six miles southeast of Rapid River, approximately 3 miles south of US Highway 2 and just east of County road 513 on the Stonington Peninsula in T40N, R21W, Sections 18 and 30. The piles are approximately 5’x5’x5′ in size and cumulatively would cover approximately 3 acres. During active pile burning in the South Schaawe area, smoke may be visible from Gladstone, US Highway 2 east of Rapid River, and along county road 513 in Delta County. The piles should burn to ash within a few hours.

The Gravel Pit project is located approximately two miles south of Hwy 94 and one mile west of the Rapid River truck trail in T45N, R20W, Section 10. This is a single pile and large in size at 10’x30’x20′. When ignited smoke from this pile may be visible from Chatham, Au Train, and Munising. This pile will continue to produce smoke as it consumes throughout the day.

For more information about the Hiawatha National Forest’s 2018/2019 prescribed burn plans, visit the Forest’s News & Events page or contact Eric Rebitzke, the Hiawatha’s Fire Management Officer, at (906)-428-5856.