Central Oregon–Recent rain and snow
accumulations coupled with cool fall temperatures will allow fuels specialists across
the Deschutes National Forest to begin burning slash piles.
Beginning next week, and continuing through the
next several weeks and months depending on conditions, specialists will begin
burning a variety of units across the forest starting in the southern end of
the forest on the Crescent Ranger District.
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.
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