Prescribed burning planned southeast of Bend this week near Camp II staging area
Tracee Tuesday
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Fire crews with the Deschutes National Forest are set to begin a series of prescribed burns Monday about 15 miles southeast of Bend, with smoke expected to be visible from parts of the city and along Highway 20.
Ignitions are scheduled to start around 9 a.m. on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District and could continue through Friday if weather conditions remain favorable.
The work will focus on two units known as Flank 5 and Flank 4, located west of Forest Service Road 18 near its junction with Forest Service Road 25 and the Camp II OHV staging area. Firefighters plan to burn up to 550 acres on Monday in the Flank 5 unit, followed by as many as 1,270 additional acres later in the week in the Flank 4 area.
Officials say the burns are part of ongoing efforts to reduce wildfire risk and help protect nearby communities, including Bend, by removing excess vegetation under controlled conditions.
Smoke from the burns will likely be visible across the region and could settle in low-lying areas overnight and during early morning hours. Fire managers coordinate with Oregon Department of Forestry smoke specialists to time burns when conditions are most likely to move smoke away from populated areas, but some impacts are still expected.
Temporary closures are in place within the Opine OHV trail system, including trails 020, 021, 025 and 028. The closures are expected to remain for several days during and after operations as crews monitor conditions. Trails will reopen once they are deemed safe.
Health officials recommend residents take precautions during smoky conditions, including closing windows at night, using air purifiers if available and limiting exposure, especially for those with heart or lung conditions. Drivers traveling through smoky areas are urged to slow down, use headlights and set vehicle ventilation systems to recirculate air.
More information about prescribed burning and smoke safety is available at centraloregonfire.org. Residents can also sign up for alerts by texting “COFIRE” to 888-777.