New burn technology to be tested

Pilot project aims to cut wildfire risk and smoke from slash piles.

The Oregon Department of Forestry is teaming up with the owner of 33,000 acres of private timberland west of Bend to test a new technology that reduces the amount of smoke produced during pile burning activities, and reduces wildfire risk.

A pilot project is set to be held in October on Shanda Asset Management’s Skyline Forest, a vast swath of timberland west of Bend that has long been the target of conservation efforts. The project entails using an air curtain burner — a container-sized unit that burns wood slash from thinning projects. Instead of releasing particulate matter into the atmosphere, these units capture smoke and produce biochar.

Using an air curtain burner versus setting slash alight also reduces the risk of a wildfire caused by embers escaping from burning piles. Another advantage is limiting the spread of tree disease and insects — air curtain burners have proven to be better than pile burning when containment is needed.