Helicopter Fuel Reduction Begins October 6th

San Bernardino Mountains, Ca, October 5, 2010, 8:00am – The Mountaintop Ranger District will be using helicopters as part of fuel reduction projects in the Miller Canyon area north of Lake Gregory starting Wednesday October 6. Helicopters will be removing trees, slash in areas inaccessible by conventional tree removal methods, and fly the logs to a staging point or landing.  The helicopter project work begins on October 6 and forest officials anticipate the helicopter portion of the project area completed within 2 weeks, weather and conditions permitting.   Forest visitors may be subject to temporary delays along forest roads in the project area.  “Favorable weather has allowed the work in Miller Canyon to progress, and we will continue the work as long as conditions will allow it,” stated District Ranger Scott Tangenberg. “These projects are all part of the continuing effort by the San Bernardino National Forest to reduce fuels around the mountain communities.” Ranger Tangenberg added. While this type of logging is very interesting for the public to observe, it could be dangerous to go hiking around the operation site, the public is cautioned to view from safe, distant vantage points.