MICHIGAN — Driving through the Ottawa National Forest north of Land O’Lakes towards Dinner Lake you’ll see snow-covered piles stacked up every few feet in the woods along the road. Many of the piles are wood debris and branches left over from logging operations on the Ottawa. Some of the piles have been waiting there for two years as the Forest Service let them dry out. A couple weeks ago, fire crews started burning them. Fire has long been used in forests to help with management. …In this case, it’s primarily being used to increase the safety of people who live nearby in the event of a major wildfire. …Studies have shown that fuel breaks increase the effectiveness of other wildlife suppression work.