Ochoco jackpot burning to continue in Maurys tomorrow

PRINEVILLE, Ore.—Fire managers on the Ochoco National Forest have enjoyed two successful days of jackpot burning in the Upper Beaver units near Rager Ranger Station, and plan to continue burning juniper jackpots tomorrow in the Maury Mountains.

The burning goal for tomorrow in the eastern Maury Mountains is to undertake 200 acres of juniper jackpots in the Wiley Flat area, about 4 miles northeast of Antelope Flat Reservoir. If successful, fire managers plan to complete another 200 acres in the Maury Mountains on Sunday.

This will be in addition to completing the 800-acre treatment currently underway in the Upper Beaver units, about 15 miles northeast of Paulina, near Rager Ranger Station on the Paulina Ranger District.

Jackpot burning addresses high concentrations of thinning-related or naturally-occurring downed woody debris. It is not a broadcast burn or an underburn.

The goals for tomorrow’s jackpot burning are to reduce hazardous fuels to prevent future high-intensity fire, while improving critical winter range for big game and creating better connectivity of sage grouse habitat.

Light smoke will be visible from both burns during ignition periods and may linger for several days, but no other impacts to forest visitors are expected.

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

If you want to receive email notifications prior to prescribed burns on the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland, send a request to Assistant Fire Management Officer Sam Pearcy at spearcy@fs.fed.us

Visit our website for a virtual map of all current and planned prescribed burn units: http://go.usa.gov/c6CXR

For media inquiries, contact Patrick Lair at plair@fs.fed.us or (541) 416-6647  

Prescribed burning planned for Ochocos this week

PRINEVILLE, Ore.—Fire managers on the Ochoco National Forest plan to burn around 800 acres of downed juniper this week, otherwise known as juniper jackpot burning.

The Upper Beaver burn unit is located about 15 miles northeast of Paulina, near the Rager Ranger Station on the Paulina Ranger District.

The prescribed burn is scheduled to start around 1030 am Thursday, March 31, and continue for up to three days pending favorable weather.

Light smoke will be visible from Forest Service Road 58 during ignitions, and might linger for several days following the burn. Road signs will be posted but no other impacts to travelers are expected.

The burning of this juniper is intended to provide better connectivity of sage grouse habitat, improve critical winter range for big game and simultaneously reduce hazardous fuel loading to lower the risk of large-scale wildfire across the landscape.

The project is made possible with funding from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

If you want to receive email notifications prior to prescribed burns on the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland, send a request to Assistant Fire Management Officer Sam Pearcy at spearcy@fs.fed.us

For media inquiries, contact Patrick Lair at plair@fs.fed.us or (541) 416-6647  

Juniper slash burning planned for Grassland tomorrow

PRINEVILLE, Ore.—Fire managers on the Crooked River National Grassland plan to burn 227 acres of juniper slash tomorrow afternoon pending favorable weather.

The burn unit is located near the intersection of SE Grizzly Road and the powerlines, about 3 miles northeast of the Rimrock Springs Wildlife Management Area located along Highway 26.

The juniper slash is left over from personal firewood cutting. The burn is part of a hazardous fuels reduction project to reduce the potential for an unwanted, high intensity wildfire.

Light smoke will be visible during ignitions, which are scheduled to start at noon tomorrow and continue throughout the afternoon.

Light smoke may linger for several days and be visible to passing motorists along the highway, but no other impacts to travelers are expected.

If you want to receive email notifications prior to prescribed burns on the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland, send a request to Assistant Fire Management Officer Sam Pearcy at spearcy@fs.fed.us

For media inquiries, contact Patrick Lair at plair@fs.fed.us or (541) 416-6647  

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National Grassland jackpot burning planned for this week

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – Fire managers on the Crooked River National Grassland plan to take advantage of favorable weather starting Wednesday to begin ignitions on around 500 acres of jackpot slash within three burn units near Juniper Butte along Highway 97, about 10 miles southwest of Madras.

Jackpot burning addresses high concentrations of naturally-occurring or thinning-related downed woody debris.

The objective for this jackpot burn is to reduce fuel loading and fire danger in areas where high concentrations of juniper slash are left over from personal use firewood cutting. The project falls within the Jefferson County Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

Ignitions will last for two or three days and smoke will be visible along Highway 97, but no delays or impacts to highway traffic are expected.

The most visible burn unit is located at the base of Juniper Butte near the intersection of Highway 97 and Monroe Lane. Another unit is located 4 miles to the east along Ramms Road, and a third unit is located 2 miles to the south of Ramms Road in the Henderson Flat area, northwest of Gray Butte. See attached map.

Ignitions are planned to begin at 9:30 Wednesday morning.

All prescribed burning is proposed, analyzed, and planned ahead of time by the Forest Service as part of restoration and fuels management projects. 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.

For more information, visit the Ochoco National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/ochoco and follow us on Twitter @CentralORFire.

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.

Crooked River National Grassland burning is cancelled due to weather

A planned 68-acre slash burning project on the Crooked River National Grassland has been cancelled due to winter weather.

Fire managers had hoped for a burning window today to remove juniper slash left over from a commercial firewood sale last year.

Weather conditions are too cold and wet to undertake the project today. Managers will look for another opportunity to carry out the project over the coming weeks.

The project area is located about 8 miles northwest of Prineville near Milepost 16 on Hwy 26, at the base of Grizzly Mountain.

Juniper slash burn planned next week near Grizzly Mountain

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 early next week as weather conditions allow.

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.