September has been lovely and largely free of smoke around the region. The excessively smoky conditions of August, caused by wildfires, are behind us.
But more smoke arrives with fall: smoke from prescribed burns regulated by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF).
200,000 acres are burned each year, and ODF might increase that total, to avoid dealing with wildfires later.
ODF Forest Protection Division chief Doug Grafe joins us to explain practice and plans.