SISTERS– Taking advantage of the cooler weather, fuels
specialists plan to burn nearly 200 acres of slash piles next week within
approximately one mile of Camp Sherman and within the Glaze Forest Restoration
area.
Beginning as early as Monday and continuing
through the week, fuels specialists are planning to burn three units of piles totaling
44 acres within the Glaze Forest Restoration project area south of Highway 20
and west of Cold Springs Cutoff/Forest Road 1012. An additional five units
totaling 153 acres are slated for burning in the Metolius area within
approximately one mile of Camp Sherman.
Piles may smolder, burn, and produce smoke for
several days after ignition. While smoke
may linger in the area, there is a real benefit to burning this type of
vegetation. The piles are concentrations
of leftover materials associated with previous vegetation management activities
intended to remove hazardous fuels that can burn during summer wildfires.
No closures are anticipated with these operations.
However, if smoke drifts on to roads,
motorists should slow down, turn on headlights, and proceed with care. Once ignited, units are monitored by
firefighters until they are declared out.
Fuels specialists follow policies outlined in the
Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan, which governs prescribed
fires (including pile burning) and attempts to minimize impacts to visibility
and public health.
For more information, visit the Deschutes website
at www.fs.usda.gov/deschutes and follow us on twitter @CentralORFire.
