Your drive to Sault Ste. Marie may look different soon. That’s because plans for the Hiawatha National Forest include burning 10,290 acres of the massive forest this summer.
The USDA Forest Service Upper Peninsula Fire and Aviation Management Unit is preparing for prescribed fire operations on the Hiawatha and Ottawa National Forests. This includes 7,042 acres on the East Zone and 3,248 acres on the West Zone of the Hiawatha National Forest, and 587 acres on the Ottawa National Forest.
These prescribed fires reduce risk to the public by removing hazardous growth to mitigate wildfires and prevent loss of property. They also help to re-establish fire’s positive role in local ecosystems, increase native plant regeneration, and improve wildlife habitat and forest health.
During active burning, smoke and flames may be visible from roads and in areas downwind of the burn site.
For air quality information, go to fire.airnow.gov/ or contact your nearest Ranger District to be notified of prescribed fires in your vicinity the day of the burn.
An online map of this plan is also available at https://bit.ly/USFSBurn (case sensitive).
