Controlled Burn Scheduled at Powell Butte Nature Park in Oregon

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With weather permitting on Tuesday, September 6, 2011, Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) and Gresham Fire & Emergency Services (GF&ES) will be conducting a controlled burn of two grassland areas in the southeast section of Powell Butte Nature Park. The burn will reduce non-native shrubs and brambles that pose an increased risk of wildfires on the butte and will benefit birds and wildlife, help re-establish native vegetation, improve the park experience for visitors, and provide a training opportunity for Portland firefighters.  

PF&R and GF&ES will begin the burn by deliberately setting controlled blazes to burn 24 acres and will be on-site during the burn to assist with fire control. The burn site will be carefully monitored by onsite fire personnel for several days after burn begins for any excessive smoke conditions and/or fire flare-ups.  

Please note that Powell Butte Nature Park will be open for use during the burn, but public access will be restricted to certain areas away from the fire zone, including the Johnson Creek Trail, Pioneer Orchard Trail, Orchard Loop viewpoint, and Wild Hawthorne Trail. 

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R), the Wildland Unit of Portland Fire, Portland Bureau of Environmental Services and the Portland Water Bureau (PWB) are collaborating on the first of three planned prescriptive burns at natural area grassland habitats within the city. Powell Butte will be the site of the first operation, with Baltimore Woods and Elk Rock Island Natural Areas being scheduled for later in this summer or early fall. 

Republished with permission of Portland Fire & Rescue. View original article here.



Author:Portland Fire & Rescue