UPDATE at 11 a.m.: Due to high moisture and smoke concerns, the Lithia Park controlled burn was cancelled.
ORIGINAL: Today, Friday, March 21, the City of Ashland and Ashland Parks and Recreation will manage controlled burns to consume burn piles in Lithia Park. With predicted rain and weather coming in, we expect smoke to quickly disperse and the burn area is small.
Predicted Smoke Impacts: Smoke will briefly impact areas around the burn. You may see or smell smoke near the controlled burn in Lithia Park.
| Location of Controlled Burn | Near Fork Street and Pioneer, above the Lithia Park playground |
| Date(s) of Controlled Burns | Friday, March 21 |
Potential Smoke Impacts | Smoke may impact areas close to the burn. There is not a lot of burning and minimal impact expected. |
| What to do if smoke is in the air | The City’s Smokewise Ashland site has all the resources you need to stay healthy. |
| More information | smokewiseashland.org |
Where is the Controlled Burning?
Near Fork Street and Pioneer, above the Lithia Park playground.
Above Lithia Park playground near fork street and Pioneer.
Why Burn?
For time immemorial Indigenous peoples used fire as a land management tool and research has shown that burning accumulated fuel is an important step to restore forest resilience and reduces severe summer wildfires in our municipal watershed and community. Our primary objective when using prescribed fire is the safety and well-being of our community and fire crews. Learn more about how proactive fire planning is used to prioritize our work and guide summer fire response. The City of Ashland works in partnership across city forest lands, with private landowners and on public land for improving community wildfire risk reduction.
Stay Informed with Non- Emergency Smoke and Controlled Burning Notifications
Controlled burns will continue throughout spring and several burn locations are close to town. Smoke is expected to impact recreation trails and the community. Text WATERSHED in the message line to 888777 for non-emergency text notifications about City of Ashland controlled burns, smoke, forest management activities and events for community risk reduction.