Two prescribed burns planned for the Ochocos next week

PRINEVILLE, Ore.— Fire managers on the Ochoco National Forest plan to take advantage of recent precipitation to ignite two prescribed burns next week.

Recent moisture coupled with cooler temperatures has created an opportunity to achieve a beneficial, low intensity burn within two planned burn units.

The Rush Springs burn unit is approximately 320 acres, located about 15 miles northeast of Prineville and three miles north of Ochoco Ranger Station near Forest Service Road 2620. This burn is planned to begin Monday morning and last two days.

The East Maury burn unit is approximately 333 acres, located near Elkhorn campground along Forest Service Road 16 in the Maury Mountains, about three miles south of the Post-Paulina Highway. The East Maury burn is planned to start Wednesday and last two days.

To see exact locations of the proposed burn units, visit our “Prescribed Fire in Central Oregon” map online: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/ochoco/home/?cid=stelprd3812842

Prescribed burning is part of a Forest Service program to remove hazardous fuels in order to reduce the potential for high-intensity uncharacteristic fire, while restoring low intensity fire to a fire-adapted ecosystem and improving range and forest health.

Prescribed burning is a proactive approach to fire management, reintroducing fire in a planned, low intensity manner that benefits the resources, instead of waiting for an unplanned ignition, such as lightning, to start a wildfire that requires an expensive suppression response and can burn with destructive intensity.

The objectives for both the Rush Springs and East Maury burns include hazardous fuels reduction, improving big game habitat and range conditions for livestock, and reintroducing fire into a fire-adapted ponderosa pine ecosystem.

Light smoke is expected in the vicinity of each burn during periods of active ignitions, but no obstructions to road traffic are anticipated.

For more information on prescribed burning plans, or to be added to a burning notification list, contact Assistant Fire Management Officer Sam Pearcy at (541) 416-6428 or spearcy@fs.fed.us.