BEND – On Thursday, fuels specialists plan to ignite a 127 acre prescribed
burn within the Pringle Falls Experimental Forest, approximately 25 miles
southwest of Bend.
The Pringle Falls Experimental Forest is a
diverse field laboratory within the Deschutes National Forest. This is the
third consecutive year fuels specialists will be putting fire on the ground in
the experimental forest which continues the research of the Pacific Northwest
Research Station on fuels management and forest insect and disease issues within
ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests. The objective of the burn is to
reduce stand densities, which should lower the susceptibility to catastrophic
loss to insects, disease and fire.
There are no road closures anticipated with this
burn. Residences and businesses in the areas of the prescribed burn are advised
to keep their windows and doors closed during the night hours to avoid any
potential smoke impacts. If smoke drifts on to local roads, motorists should
slow down, turn on headlights, and proceed with care.
Fuels specialists will follow policies outlined
in the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan, which governs
prescribed fires, and attempts to minimize impacts to visibility and public
health. Once ignited, units are monitored and patrolled until they are
declared out.
For more information, visit the Deschutes
National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/deschutes and follow us
on Twitter @CentralORFire.
-End-
No comments:
Post a Comment