Barney Lerten
(Update: Burn completed, new photos)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District firefighters conducted 450 acres of prescribed burning Thursday about three miles west of Bend, near Forest Service Roads 4610 and 4615 and the trail intersection of Grand Slam and Ticket to Ride.
The burn was completed Thursday afternoon, as crews transitioned to mop-up and patrol operations.
Smoke has been visible from Cascade Lakes Highway, Bend, and the surrounding area. Residents in Bend are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts. Smoke impacts are most likely overnight and in the early morning hours.
A portion of Grand Slam Trail will be closed from FSR 220 to the trail junction of Grand Slam and Ticket to Ride. There will be a reroute in place and signage will be posted marking the closure and alternate route.
Forest Service Road 4615 will also be closed for public safety from its junction with FSR 800 to its junction with FSR 4610, as prescribed fire operations will be occurring directly along the road.
These trail and road closures will remain in place for several days while mop-up and patrol operations continue after the prescribed burn is complete.
Smoke impacts are possible across Cascade Lakes Highway during prescribed burning operations, as well as overnight and in the early morning hours.
Firefighters implement understory prescribed burning to reduce wildfire risk to communities. Prescribed burning reintroduces and maintains fire within our fire-dependent ecosystem by removing concentrations of vegetation and restoring forest health while increasing public and firefighter safety.
Fire management officials work with Oregon Department of Forestry smoke specialists to plan prescribed burns. Prescribed burns are conducted when weather is most likely to move smoke up and away from our communities. While prescribed fire managers take significant preventive measures, it’s likely that communities may experience some smoke during or immediately after a prescribed burn.
What does this mean for you?
During prescribed burns, smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight and in the early morning hours.
All residents are encouraged to close doors and windows at night to avoid smoke impacts.
If available, use a portable air cleaner. Air cleaners work best running with doors and windows closed. You can also create a DIY air cleaner.
If you have a central air system, use it to filter air. Use high-efficiency filters if possible.
When driving in smoky areas, drivers should slow down, turn on headlights and turn air to recirculating.
If you have heart or lung disease, asthma, or other chronic conditions, pay attention to how you feel and if symptoms of heart or lung disease worsen, consider contacting your health care professional.
Go to centraloregonfire.org to learn more about smoke safety and prescribed burning in Central Oregon and visit When Smoke is in the Air for more smoke preparedness resources.
For more information on prescribed burning in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org/ and for information specific to the Deschutes National Forest visit https://nfs.fs2c.usda.gov/r06/deschutes. Follow us on X/Twitter @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts.
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