Prescribed burning could start soon on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.

Forest officials light fires during the spring, when conditions permit, to reduce the amount of combustible debris on the ground. Prescribed fires can also spur the growth of grass and shrubs that are food sources for wildlife, such as deer and elk, and for cattle that graze on public land.

The Wallowa-Whitman has a prescribed fire interactive map online that allows users to get information about specific planned burns. The map is available at https://tinyurl.com/23myt4fb.

Prescribed burning areas sometimes are closed to the public for several days. Crews also post signs along roads warning drivers about burning and smoke.

Areas that could be burned this spring include parts of Sumpter Valley north and south of Sumpter, and both north and south of Phillips Reservoir.

More information is also available ahttps://bluemtnprescribedfire.blogspot.com/ and InciWeb, the interagency incident information system.