NORTH FORK — For several mornings, people have been reporting a smoke up near Cascadel Woods, near Forest Road 8S09.
Just to put residents at ease, we want to let you know that it’s actually dust being created by masticators chewing up branches as the Forest Service contractors work to keep the area around that mountain community free of ladder fuels.
There are three machines working along the boundary between Cascadel and the Forest lands, removing limbs that create ladders for flames to travel up into the crowns of trees in the event of a wildland fire.
When they get down to the dirt, it creates a plume of dust that has been reported as fire several times this week. While no one is being discouraged from ever calling in what they suspect is a fire, we just wanted to pass along information about this specific project in case it puts some minds at ease.
The project involves about 80 acres and contractors will be on the job for about 5 more days.
For more information about clearing dangerous ladder fuels on your property, there are several excellent resources available.
