A Forest That Needs Fire

Prescribed burning is a carefully planned restoration tool that is used during safe times in the spring and fall.
RESTORING AND PROTECTING CENTRAL OREGON

Prescribed Burns

Prescribed burns are the most cost effective and environmentally appropriate method of restoring our forests and protecting Central Oregon communities from severe wildfires.

Tree ring and fire scar research shows that fires burned through any given Central Oregon pine forest around every 20 years prior to our history of significant fire suppression efforts. Depending on location, some areas had fires return every 10 or 11 years.
MAINTAINING CENTRAL OREGON FORESTS

Positive Effects of Fires

Other methods such as thinning and logging can reduce dangerous fuel loads, but frequent fire has many other positive effects, including exposing bare soil for seeds, and breaking down woody debris into soil components that would otherwise take decades to decompose in this dry climate.

We understand that unless we act now, the lifestyle and special places we all treasure in our local forests are at risk.

The native inhabitants of Central Oregon are well-aware of the role that fire played, and still use it today to maintain their traditional food sources and their relationships with the land.
OUR FORESTS NEED FIRE
We live in and around forests that are adapted to fire, which is why we are working to safely use fire as a critical step in local forest restoration efforts.

Prescribed fires help keep forests healthy, reduce risks from out-of-control wildfires, and increase community and firefighter safety during future wildfires.
A LOT OF CARE GOES IN TO PRESCRIBED BURNING
Prescribed fires are carefully planned and conducted by professionals under specific conditions to achieve ecological and wildfire risk reduction goals.
SUSTAINING OUR FORESTS
Prescribed fire helps ensure we have a beautiful, healthy forest to live near, to play and work in, and to provide the many benefits that we care about for generations to come.

Forests Are Resilient

While recently burned forests may look damaged, they are naturally adapted to recover quickly from prescribed fire, becoming healthier and more resilient to future wildfires.
Before
After

Healthy Forests Mean Safer Communities

Science shows that the combination of thinning and prescribed fire is the most effective way to restore healthy forests and reduce wildfire risk in communities.

Please Excuse Our Smoke

  • Fire professionals work with weather and air quality specialists to identify conditions that will minimize smoke impacts on people and communities.

  • Nonetheless, some smoke in the air is inevitable, and a sign that restoration work is taking place, making our forests healthier and our communities safer.

  • Many factors affect your susceptibility to smoke, including severity and duration of exposure and your health. If you feel impacted by smoke, avoid outdoor physical exertion and remain indoors.

SMOKE & HEALTH
AIR QUALITY

Visit www.centraloregonfire.org for more

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(c) 2023 Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project