The Sterling Highway cuts through the the Swan Lake fire burn area in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, as seen on Sunday, May 22, 2022. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

The Sterling Highway cuts through the the Swan Lake fire burn area in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, as seen on Sunday, May 22, 2022. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Smoke from prescribed fire may be seen on Sterling Highway

The burns were scheduled for Monday, but smoke may be seen in the evenings and mornings following the activity

Prescribed burns are taking place this week in Cooper Creek South Campground in Cooper Landing, and smoke may be seen along the Sterling Highway corridor, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service announced Friday.

The burns were scheduled for Monday, but smoke may be seen in the evenings and mornings following the activity, a release from the Forest Service says.

The Chugach National Forest fire management staff is leading the burns with support from wildland firefighters from Chugachmiut.

According to the release, 16 acres of forest land at the campground was scheduled for burn, part of around 200 acres set for hazardous fuels reduction activity this spring. In this and other cases, Forest Service personnel will work with the National Weather Service to assess weather conditions most ideal for smoke dispersion to minimize impacts to the public.

For more information about Forest Service activity in the Chugach National Forest, visit fs.usda.gov/chugach.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.

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