ASHLAND, Ore. – The City of Ashland, in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, announced that controlled burns will take place from Thursday, May 8th, through Saturday, May 10th. The strategic burns are part of ongoing efforts to improve community wildfire safety and watershed protection.
The burns will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday and continue throughout the weekend, with several areas around the city impacted by smoke. Areas expected to experience smoke include Lithia Park, Strawberry Lane, the downtown area, as well as the surrounding neighborhoods, extending to Ashland Creek and Bear Creek. Additionally, trails in the vicinity will be closed for public and firefighter safety during the burn.
Chris Chambers, Forestry and Public Information Officer for the City of Ashland, emphasized the importance of the controlled burn, stating, “This burn has outsized importance for community safety and watershed protection. We’ve been working with our partners toward this goal for over a decade and we ask for your tolerance with smoke and closures as part of our ongoing wildfire readiness and adapting to hotter and drier summers.”
The city urges residents to be mindful of the temporary smoke and trail closures, as the controlled burns are a critical part of the region’s wildfire prevention strategy. The burn is intended to reduce fuel loads and mitigate the risk of larger, more destructive wildfires during the hotter months ahead.
Residents who are signed up for the Jackson Alerts system will receive non-emergency notifications if the burn area is expanded. The city is committed to keeping the public informed about the burns and any changes to the schedule or affected areas.
The controlled burns reflect Ashland’s long-term commitment to adapting to the increasing wildfire risks in the region, which have been exacerbated by rising temperatures and drier conditions in recent years. As the city continues to prioritize wildfire prevention, community cooperation will be essential to ensure the safety of both residents and the surrounding environment.