Forest crews burn slash piles west of Randolph – Cache Valley Daily

Forest service crews finish burning slash piles in the mountains west of Randolph, (Photo: Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest)

RICH COUNTY — Outdoor recreationists may notice some areas of smoke as forest service crews finish burning slash piles in the mountains west of Randolph. The project has been going on for several days.

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest spokeswoman Kathy Jo Pollock said fire personnel from the Ogden and Logan Ranger Districts were burning 197 acres of piles. This included 144 acres of hand piles in the Log Cabin Hollow, Jebo and Slideout areas and 53 acres of hand piles in the News Canyon area.

The project is located within portions of Rich and Cache counties, and is approximately 45 miles east of Logan.

Pollock said the hand piles were created from pre-commercial thinning to reduce the density of trees in previously harvested high density lodge pole pine stands. Decreasing stocking density in these stands will increase the growth and vigor of remaining trees.

The objective of burning piles is to dispose of accumulations of woody fuels from the pre-commercial thinning. Smoke from the prescribed burn could impact the Sweetwater, Meadowville and Randolph areas.

Logan District Ranger Marshall Alford said, “that by removing the piles by burning improves visual quality, reduces impacts of wildfire to local communities and returns the landscape to the desired multiple use management conditions.”

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