Tubbs Hill hazardous fuels treatment pile burning

The city of Coeur d’Alene Parks Department will be burning slash piles on the southeast side of Tubbs Hill starting Thursday.

This project will be the culmination of hazardous fuels treatment across the landscape of the hill. This specific burning will remove the debris that were generated in the last 13 acres of treatment. The Parks Department and its contractors have been working closely with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to ensure smoke impacts are minimal, a release said.

The city of Coeur d’Alene Fire Department will be advising on conditions and helping monitor the situation regarding fire danger, the press release said.

Contract crews will begin lighting the piles about 9 a.m. Thursday. The Tubbs Hill Foundation will have "Trail Ambassadors" on the hill to assist in directing people away from active burn areas and to answer questions about the project and Tubbs Hill. 

The Parks Department will be placing signage at the main trailheads to inform the public about safety. 

While recreation on Tubbs Hill is not closed, the city is strongly encouraging individuals to plan for trail closures as crews move across the area, the release said, the release said.

"This project has been a needed forest practice to help achieve better forest health and promote growth in native species, while providing future planting sites for native conifers species," the release said.

The project was made possible by a grant from the Idaho Department of Lands and the U.S. Forest Service. It is being done in collaboration with the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Kootenai County Office of Emergency Management’s FireSmart Program, and the Tubbs Hill Foundation,