Weather permitting, prescribed burn to happen in Cass County

The U.S. Forest Service will be conducting a prescribed burn in Tanglewood Unit 2, located about 6 miles south-southeast of State Highway 371 and North of the Woodtick Trail (Forest Road 2107.) Crews will be burning approximately 30 acres. If conditions are right, the US Forest Service says the burn may start as early as today, June 1.

The public should be aware that you may see a column of smoke visible from long distances. Officials warn the smoke may cross over roads adjacent to the burn area, and motorists should slow down and turn on headlights. In addition, drivers in the area should be aware of fire crews and equipment.

The work conducted in this burn will help lower the potential for wildfires by reducing hazardous fuel loads, including dead trees, windfall. A prescribed fire also restores the natural process for which our ecosystems rely on for fire adapted plants and trees, according to the Forest Service.

Prescribed fires are conducted under specific weather conditions, and staff take environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and wind into consideration. The project will be postponed if conditions are not met.

Please direct questions regarding the prescribed fire to the Walker Ranger District (218) 547-1044.

For information about the Chippewa National Forest, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/chippewa