As favorable weather and forest burning conditions develop, fuels specialists across the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests will conduct numerous prescribed burns across Central Oregon in the coming weeks. Prescribed burns are planned for the Bend, Crescent, and Sisters areas. The use of prescribed fire in Central Oregon’s fire-adapted ecosystems restores forests to healthier conditions, reduces and removes dense vegetation that contributes to high-intensity wildfires and protects our communities.
Over the past couple years, close to 700 acres of prescribed burning has been completed in the West Bend Project area. The West Bend Project is designed to restore forest health while reducing the risk of high severity wildfire to our local community.
Taking advantage of cooler weather and localized precipitation, the Deschutes National Forest fuel specialists and firefighters are conducting two more prescribed burns this week. On Thursday, June 15, 2017, fuels specialists will ignite a 570 acre prescribed burn four miles north of Hole in the Ground, approximately 20 miles southeast of La Pine, Oregon. While no closures are associated with this burn, residual smoke may linger in low areas for the following days and in the evenings so individuals traveling through the area may see smoke for several days.
On Friday, June 16, 2017, three miles southwest of Sisters, a 28-acre unit is slated for treatment one mile southwest of Edgington Road community. This unit was selected to be burned to decrease hazardous fuels accumulations within the Wildland Urban Interface near Tollgate and Sisters. An additional 108 acres could be burned by fuels specialists if conditions remain favorable. Due to the location of this unit, 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. No road closures are anticipated with this project. Residences and businesses in the area are advised to keep their windows and doors closed during the night hours to avoid any potential smoke impacts.
Beginning the morning of Monday, June 5, 2017, fuels specialists will ignite a prescribed burn four miles southwest of Sisters. The area slated for burning is approximately 200 acres and is situated between Forest Road 15 and Forest Road 1513, east of Trout Creek Butte. The project was designed to decrease hazardous fuel accumulations adjacent to the city of Sisters and the surrounding communities. While smoke could impact Highway 242 and Highway 20 during the burn, there are no road closures associated with this prescribed burn.
As part of an agreement between the Deschutes National Forest and Bend Parks and Recreation District, Forest Service fuels specialists will be conducting a 48 acre prescribed burn within Shevlin Park on Thursday, May 25, 2017. Shevlin Park will be closed to visitors during the day of ignitions. Shevlin Commons, Tetherow, Northwest Crossing and other West Bend communities can expect to see residual smoke impacts following the ignitions of these units. No road closures are expected for the burn; however, flaggers will be operating along Shevlin Park Road as needed to assist with smoke impacts to traffic.
On Monday, May 22, 2017, fuels specialists will burn 108 acres along Cascade Lakes Highway, approximately half a mile northeast of the Cascade Lakes Welcome Station and directly across from the Widgi Creek Golf Course. This burn is being conducted as part of the West Bend Project. While no road or trail closures are expected, flaggers may be used to guide traffic on Cascade Lakes Highway.
Fuels specialists will also ignite a 75 acre prescribed burn off of Forest Road 41, roughly a quarter mile east of Besson Day Use Area and one mile east of Sunriver. While no road or trail closures are expected for this burn, traffic delays may be possible on Forest Road 41.
Additionally, if conditions prove favorable, Sisters fuels specialists will ignite 140 acres of prescribed fire in the Metolius basin area, on the west side of Forest Road 1420, west of House on the Metolius and two miles north of the Camp Sherman and Metolius Meadows communities. No road or trail closures are expected for this burn.
Ignitions are planned for 10:30 and will continue for approximately four hours. Communities located near the listed burn areas can expect to see residual smoke impacts following the ignitions of these units. Fire crews will continue to patrol and monitor all burns for several days after ignitions.
On Thursday, May 18, 2017 fuels specialists will be igniting 88 acres south of Bend in an area adjacent to the Woodside Ranch, Sundance and Lost Tracks subdivisions off of China Hat Road. If conditions remain favorable, they plan to prescribe burn an additional 239 acres on Sunday in the same area. No road or trail closures are expected for either burn.
In Sisters, fuels specialists plan to prescribe burn 200 acres on Friday, May 19, 2017 one mile southwest of Edgington Road community and approximately three miles southwest of the Crossroads, Tollgate and Sisters communities. If conditions remain favorable, fuels specialists will continue prescribed burning on Monday in the Metolius Basin. They plan to ignite 140 acres on the west side of Forest Road 1420, two miles north of the Camp Sherman and Metolius Meadows communities and west of the House on the Metolius. No road or trail closures are anticipated for either burn.
If favorable prescribed burning conditions persist into next week, fuels specialists plan to continue burning in the West Bend area.
Ignitions are planned for mid-morning. Communities located near the listed burn areas can expect to see residual smoke impacts following the ignitions of these units. Fire crews will continue to patrol and monitor all burns for several days after ignitions.
Fuels specialists plan to ignite an 119 acre prescribed burn in the Metolius Basin area on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. The planned burn area, located two miles to the north of the Camp Sherman and Metolius Meadows communities, is on the west side of Forest Road 1420 and is west of House on the Metolius. No road or trail closures are expected.
On Sunday, May 7, 2017, fuels specialists will be burning 110 acres approximately five miles west of Sisters, adjacent to the south side of Highway 242. Additionally, they plan to ignite 63 acres approximately three miles west of Sisters, adjacent to the Tollgate community and less than a mile north of the Crossroads community. No road or trail closures are expected for either burn.
If the favorable weather continues, fuels specialists plan to ignite additional prescribed burns on Monday, May 8, 2017. Those locations are:
Due to the spring showers last night, ignitions planned for this morning have been postponed until tomorrow, Saturday, May 6, 2017. Today, fuel specialists will prepare 158 acres southeast of Sunriver for ignitions tomorrow, if weather conditions remain favorable.
On Wednesday, May 3, 2017, fuels specialists plan to ignite 170 acres near the northwest edge of Shevlin Park as part of the West Bend Project. A 1,500 foot section of the Mrazek Trail will be rerouted onto portions of Forest Roads 4606 and 4609 during burning operations. Smoke may be visible over portions of Bend, Oregon.
Crescent Ranger District fuels specialists plan to burn 373 acres south of the town of Crescent and east of Forest Road 9768. These units may produce smoke that will be visible along Hwy 97 from the junction of Hwy 97 and Hwy 58 north to Crescent. Smoke may also continue to be visible from Monday’s ignition of 134 acres north of Davis Lake and Forest Road 4660. Tuesday, Ochoco National Forest fuels specialists are planning to light 143 acres of piles north of Antelope Reservoir.
Fuels specialists will also continue burning in the Sisters area with a 91 acre unit near the Cold Springs cutoff from Hwy 20. No road or trail closures are expected for this burn.
If conditions remain favorable, ignitions are planned for a 180 acre understory burn in the west Maury Mountains on Thursday. No trail or road closures are anticipated for either burn.
Later in the week conditions could also prove favorable for the ignition of 130 acres on the east side of Hwy 97 roughly 1.5 miles east of Sunriver. Road and trail closures are not expected.
Prescribed burning near Bend, Oregon
On Monday, May 1, 2017, 2, 450 acres are slated for ignition south of Bend, OR area near the subdivisions of Woodside and Sundance. Smoke may be visible along China Hat Road. No road or trail closures are expected.
Crescent, OR
Ignitions are planned around the Crescent Ranger District starting Monday and continuing throughout the week. Fuels specialists plan to burn three units totaling 373 acres located six miles south of the town of Crescent, east of Forest Road 9768. These units may produce smoke that will be visible along Hwy 97 from the junction of Hwy 97 and Hwy 58 north to Crescent.
Sisters, OR
On Monday, May 1, 2017, the Sisters Ranger District plans to ignite 156 acres in an area 3 miles west of Sisters, adjacent to the Tollgate community and roughly a mile north of the Crossroads community. No road or trail closures are expected for this burn. Signs will be posted along Hwy 242.
Pile burning in Ochoco National Forest
The Ochoco National Forest will be conducting two prescribed burns in the Maury Mountains area. On Tuesday May 2, 2017, fuels specialists are hoping to light 143 acres of piles north of Antelope Reservoir. If conditions remain favorable, they plan to ignite the Colby unit, a 180 acre understory burn in the west Maury Mountains. No trail or road closures are anticipated for either burn.
The use of prescribed fire in Central Oregon’s fire-adapted ecosystems restores forests to healthier conditions, reduces and removes dense vegetation that contributes to high-intensity wildfires and protects communities.
Prescribed burning will be completed by fire staff from the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Prineville BLM, as well as, students from the annual Central Oregon Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX) program, an interagency collaboration to expand education surrounding prescribed fire.
Ignitions are generally planned to occur in the late morning to early afternoon time frame. Communities located near the listed burn areas can expect to see residual smoke impacts following the ignitions of these units. Fire crews will continue to patrol and monitor all burns for several days after the initial ignitions.
For all prescribed burns, fuels specialists follow policies outlined in the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan, which governs prescribed fires and attempts to minimize impacts to visibility and public health. Once ignited, units are monitored and patrolled until they are declared out.
For an interactive map, visit the interactive Deschutes National Forest website at https://www.fs.fed.us/r6/webmaps/deschutes/cofms-rxfire/
