Fire managers on the Crooked River
National Grassland plan to burn slash piles on approximately 1,370 acres this
week, as weather and conditions allow.
Burning these units will improve
critical winter range for big game while reducing hazardous fuel loading to
lower the risk of large-scale wildfire across the landscape.
Beginning late in the morning
tomorrow and continuing through the end of the week, fire managers will take
advantage of the warm, drier weather to burn juniper piles scattered across
several units adjacent to Grandview, the Three Rivers subdivision and Lake
Billy Chinook.
Smoke will be visible throughout the
week from Highway 97, but no delays or impacts to travel are expected; however,
if smoke drifts onto roads, motorists should slow down, turn on headlights, and
proceed with care. Piles may smolder, burn, and produce smoke for several days
after ignition. 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.
