November 15, 2022 3:40 a.m.

The Bureau of Land Management is conducting prescribed burns in portions of Douglas County on BLM-administered lands beginning this week.

Cheyne Rossbach from the BLM said the prescribed burns will continue as conditions permit through the spring of next year.

Rossbach said the prescribed fires reduce activity fuels generated by timber harvest operations and hazard tree removal operations, including within the Archie Creek Fire Area. Fuels have been piled and covered at landings and along roadsides in multiple locations. Rossbach said prescribed fires are planned fires that are commonly referred to as “controlled burns”. The BLM release said prescribed fire is one of the most important tools used to reduce wildfire risk to local communities and wildlife habitats.

Rossbach said fire management specialists consider objectives such as public and employee safety, weather topography, fuels, size, the precise weather conditions under which it will burn and conditions under which it may be suppressed.

Other variables that impact the ability to burn include current and predicted weather, fuel moisture, personnel and equipment availability to carry out the burn, and ability to monitor the burn.

For more information about the prescribed planned on the Roseburg District, call 579-0648.