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Hoot Owl restrictions for Craig, Thorne Bay, and Wrangell Ranger Districts Tongass National Forest fire danger is very high KETCHIKAN, Alaska–The Tongass National Forest announced active timber contracts on the Craig, Thorne Bay, and Wrangell Ranger Districts began operating under an Industrial
Fire Precaution Level or “Hoot Owl” restriction on May 22, 2015. Some forest activities and work are limited during the heat of the day.
“This means that the contractor can only load, haul, and grade between 12 p.m. and 10 p.m.,” said Ted Sandhofer, Sale Administration Program Manager. “No felling, yarding, blasting, welding, or other sale activities may be done in the afternoon”. Industrial Fire Precaution Level restrictions lessen the chance that there could be an operations fire. Sandhofer explained. “We will take the restrictions off once the weather changes back to a more normal range. Hoot Owl is a historic term
used to notify woodcutters of elevated fire danger and to only cut in the morning hours when you can hear hoot owls. This has developed into the modern policy. High temperatures forecasted for the Tongass National Forest through the Memorial Day weekend. Tongass fire officials are asking that all area residents
be cautious with any open fire activities. If you do have any type of a fire, do not leave it unattended at any time, and please make sure you take the time to put it out completely.
“The lightning storms this week started several fires.” said Forest Fire Management Officer Tristan Fluharty. “Lightning fires are very unusual on the
Tongass. This is an indication of how dry the forest is. Fire danger is very high across the Tongass”. For more information about Industrial Fire Precaution Level restrictions, contact Ted Sandhofer at 907-772-5879 or
tsandhofer@xxxxxxxxx.
For more information about forest fires, contact your local Forest Service Ranger District or Forest Fire Management Officer, Tristan Fluharty by phone at 907-228-6223 or e-tfluharty@xxxxxxxxx. -end- |
