Prescribed Burning Continues Near Hole in the Ground

BEND– Fuels specialists on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District will conduct a prescribed burn on two units approximately 22 miles southeast of La Pine on Wednesday.

If conditions remain favorable, ignitions on the approximately 800 acres (listed on the live map as Mx2J and Mx2G) is slated to begin at 11:00 a.m. and continue through daylight hours. The prescribed burn is expected to be completed in one day.

For all prescribed fires, signs will be posted on significant nearby Forest roads and state highways that could be impacted.  While there are no road closures anticipated with this burn, drivers may experience smoke impacts on nearby roads.  Motorists should slow down, turn on headlights, and proceed with caution.

Residences near Fort Rock and Hole in the Ground may be impacted by smoke and are advised to keep their windows and doors closed during the night hours to minimize any potential smoke impacts.

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.

Keep up with prescribed burns in Central Oregon by visiting this live map: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/webmaps/deschutes/cofms-rxfire/

For more information, visit the Deschutes website at www.fs.usda.gov/deschutes and follow us on twitter @CentralORFire. 

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Ochoco prescribed burns planned over the coming week

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – Fire managers on the Ochoco National Forest plan to continue prescribed burns in the coming days in the McKay Creek area and near Spears Meadow along Highway 26, as weather conditions allow. Both planned burns are continuations of prescribed burning that the Forest Service has already started this fall.

Firefighters treated about 250 acres with prescribed fire in the McKay Creek area two weeks ago. Starting tomorrow, Friday October 27, fire managers plan to treat another 500 acres. The unit is located west of Forest Road 27 along Forest Road 2705, about 1 mile west of Salt Butte and 14 miles northeast of Prineville. View a map of current and proposed prescribed burn units in Central Oregon here: https://www.fs.fed.us/r6/webmaps/deschutes/cofms-rxfire/

This prescribed burn is part of an ongoing series of treatments in the area to restore fire to a fire-adapted forest ecosystem, reduce hazardous fuel loading, and improve range conditions for livestock and big game. The project is funded in part by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Smoke may impact portions of Forest Roads 27, 33 and 2705 during periods of active burning, but predicted winds are expected to disperse smoke accumulations fairly quickly.

If weather conditions allow, fire managers will also burn a portion of the 1,200-acre Spears Meadow burn unit next Monday and Tuesday. This unit is located west of Highway 26 along Forest Road 3350, about 19 miles east of Prineville. This prescribed burn was scheduled to occur earlier this month, but it was cancelled last minute due to a forecast for strong winds.

If the burn takes place next week, smoke is likely to impact nearby Highway 26 during periods of active burning. Sign boards and flaggers will be present along the highway as needed. At night, due to cold night time temperatures, smoke will pool into low level areas and may come into Prineville. This smoke should be of short duration during the early morning hours until the inversion lifts and clear back out of the valleys.

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 Forest Service appreciates public tolerance of increased smoke and vehicle traffic in support of these restoration goals.

Ochoco will prescribed burn in the McKay Creek area this week

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – Fire managers on the Ochoco National Forest plan to conduct a 200-acre under burn near McKay Creek this week, about 14 miles northeast of Prineville, as weather conditions permit.

This prescribed burn is part of an ongoing series of treatments in the area to restore fire to a fire-adapted forest ecosystem, reduce hazardous fuel loading, and improve range conditions for livestock and big game.

The project is funded in part by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The unit received ample moisture last week and conditions are still very wet in places so fire intensity is expected to be very low.

The unit is located west of Forest Road 27 along Forest Road 2705, about 1 mile west of Salt Butte. View a map of current and proposed prescribed burn units in Central Oregon here: https://www.fs.fed.us/r6/webmaps/deschutes/cofms-rxfire/

Ignitions are planned to begin today and last for two to three days as needed to complete the unit. Smoke may impact portions of Forest Roads 27, 33 and 2705 during periods of active burning, but predicted winds are expected to disperse smoke accumulations fairly quickly.

All hunting camps in the area have been contacted and the unit has been signed.

Crescent District Begins Prescribed Burning Friday

Additional Prescribed Burn Planned Near Indian Ford Campground Saturday

BEND–If conditions remain favorable, fuels specialists on the Crescent District are planning a prescribed burn tomorrow south of Crescent and 1 mile west of the Highway 97/Highway 58 junction.

The two units slated for ignition are Nina 8 and RP 3095 and ignitions on the combined 62 acres should only take on day. No closures are associated with these ignitions.

On Saturday, fuels specialists on the Sisters Ranger District are scheduled to conduct two prescribed burns adjacent to Indian Ford Campground on either side of Indian Ford Creek. IFR units 36 and 44 are both planned for ignition for a total of 123 acres, and if conditions are favorable, these two units should be completed in one day.

Due to the location of these units, the public could see smoke and drivers may experience smoke impacts on nearby highways and Forest roads. For all prescribed fires, signs will be posted on significant nearby Forest roads and state highways that could be impacted. While there are no road closures anticipated with either burn, drivers may experience smoke impacts on nearby roads. Motorists should slow down, turn on headlights, and proceed with caution.

Residences and businesses near these burn areas are advised to keep their windows and doors closed during the night hours to minimize any potential smoke impacts.

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.

Keep up with prescribed burns in Central Oregon by visiting this live map: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/webmaps/deschutes/cofms-rxfire/

For more information, visit the Deschutes website at www.fs.usda.gov/deschutes and follow us on twitter @CentralORFire.

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Ochoco prescribed burn near Hwy 26 planned for next week

Oct. 10, 2017 UPDATE: The Spears prescribed burn has been postponed due to a forecast for high winds today.

Fire managers will continue looking for opportunities to reschedule the burn, possibly later this week depending on weather.

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – Fire managers on the Ochoco National Forest plan to conduct a 1,200-acre prescribed burn near Spears Meadow next week, along Highway 26 east of Prineville, if weather conditions permit.

This prescribed burn is part of an ongoing series of treatments in the area to restore fire to a fire-adapted forest ecosystem, reduce hazardous fuel loading, and improve range conditions for livestock and big game.

The unit is located west of Highway 26 along Forest Road 3350, about 19 miles east of Prineville. See accompanying map of the burn unit, or view a map of current and proposed prescribed burn units in Central Oregon here: https://www.fs.fed.us/r6/webmaps/deschutes/cofms-rxfire/

Ignitions are planned to begin on Tuesday, October 10 and last for two to three days as needed to complete the unit. Smoke is likely to impact nearby Highway 26 during periods of active burning. Sign boards and flaggers will be present along the highway as needed.

At night, due to cold night time temperatures, smoke will pool into low level areas and may come into Prineville. This smoke should be of short duration during the early morning hours until the inversion lifts and clear back out of the valleys.

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 Forest Service appreciates public tolerance of increased smoke and vehicle traffic in support of these restoration goals.

10/2/2017 Sisters Ranger District to Conduct Prescribed Burn Tomorrow

 Contact:   Jean Nelson-Dean, Deschutes NF Public Affairs Officer, 541-383-5561

Date:  October 2, 2017

 

Sisters Ranger District to Conduct Prescribed Burn

Burn to be done near Lake Billy Chinook

SISTERS— Tomorrow fuel management specialists on the Sisters Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest will be doing a prescribed burn on a 155-acre unit located 2 miles west of Lake Billy Chinook near the junction of Forest Service Road 11 and Forest Service Road 1170.

The unit, called Flymon, is expected to be completed in one day; however, depending on burning conditions it may take up to two days. Following the prescribed burn the area will be mopped up and patrolled.

The burn will create a greater mosaic of grasses and shrubs under the overstory of large trees to improve wildlife habitat in the area. Primarily the burn will improve deer winter range.

Communities to the east of the burn including Madras and Redmond may see smoke, but should not be impacted by smoke. Smoke may pool overnight in the Lake Billy Chinook area. No road closures are planned outside of areas immediately adjacent to the burn unit.

All prescribed burning is dependent on weather and planned in accordance with smoke management standards administered by the State of Oregon.

Keep up with prescribed burns in Central Oregon by visiting this live map: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/webmaps/deschutes/cofms-rxfire/

For more information, follow us on twitter @CentralORFire.    

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