Forest Service to conduct prescribed burns near Ely

Fire crews will be working near Ely this week to reduce the wildfire risk. According to Superior National Forest (NF) release, crews will conduct prescribed fire operations in the Kawishiwi and Laurentian Ranger Districts over the next two weeks as conditions permit. Staff will conduct select pile burning which are a type of prescribed fire where trained personnel pile and burn forest debris to reduce an area’s wildfire risk.

During the week of November 25th, Superior NF fire personnel plan to conduct pile burns in the Kawishiwi Ranger District on the Bear Road piles (one small pile and the Geraldine piles which includes 1 acre hand piles.

Superior National Forest officials say the benefits of pile burning is to reduce the fuel source that could contribute to the rapid spread of wildfires. The piles are made from debris left after thinning or cutting of trees, such as timber harvests, timber stand improvement cuts or wildlife habitat improvement. The pile burning also creates a buffer zone around residential areas, helping to keep the community safe.

The Superior NF says the prescribed fires also help with the ecosystem, forest resilience and air quality.

For more information on the Superior NF Fire Program, wildfire prevention, and other information and resources, see: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/superior/fire

For information on “Learn and Burns” for landowners for hands-on experience in burning brush led by The Nature Conservancy, see the Minnesota Fire Adapted Communities webpage: https://minnesotafac.org/blogdetail.php?id=67166843a28ca