Grassland prescribed burn will take place tomorrow

Fire managers on the Crooked River National Grassland plan to burn about 68 acres of slash piles along Highway 26 near the base of Grizzly Mountain starting tomorrow morning at 10 am.

This is the same burn project that firefighters attempted two weeks ago, but it was cancelled due to snow and rain. Managers are hoping to complete the burn tomorrow before predicted rain arrives later this week.

The juniper slash is left over from a thinning project and commercial firewood sale along the southern boundary of the Grassland, near Mile Post 16, about 8 miles northwest of Prineville.

Objectives for the burn are simply to remove leftover juniper slash material so land managers can reseed the area with native grasses.

Light smoke will be visible for one day during active ignitions, but is not expected to impact the highway or passing motorists.

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.

Fire managers are planning this burn in coordination with Crook County Fire and Rescue and in observance of the weather and applicable air quality advisories.

The Forest and Grassland appreciate public tolerance of temporary smoke conditions in support of this work.