Forest Service Plans to Burn Slash Piles

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — Recent snowfall is allowing U.S. Forest Service crews to burn slash piles on the Medicine Bow and Routt National Forests in Wyoming and Colorado.

The agency estimates there are thousands of piles remaining on the two national forests. The burning program has been going on for the past several years.

Agency officials say the public should be aware of the burning and expect to see smoke.

Vern Bentley is fire management officer on the national forests. He says yearly burning of slash piles has become part of the agency's normal work program.