PRINEVILLE, Ore. – Fire managers
on the Ochoco National Forest will take advantage of recent precipitation to
burn hand piles this week along Forest Road 22 between Ochoco Ranger Station
and Walton Lake, about 25 miles east of Prineville.
Light smoke will be visible during ignition
periods but will be short in duration. Prescribed fire signs will be placed
along the road. Burning will continue as long as weather and fuel conditions
allow.
This weekend’s rain showers brought up to a
half-inch of precipitation across the forest, creating wet enough conditions to
safely ignite the piles of brush and branches.
The piles are left over from a mechanical
thinning project to reduce hazardous fuels and fire danger along the popular
route. Piles created from this type of treatment are allowed to dry for one to
two years to reduce smoke emissions and increase consumption of piled material.
Fuels specialists follow policies outlined in the
Oregon Smoke Management Plan, which governs prescribed fires (including pile
burning) and attempts to minimize impacts to visibility and public health.
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