Deschutes National Forest plans prescribed burns near Sisters, Bend Monday
Tracee Tuesday
DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes National Forest is planning prescribed burning operations Monday on the Bend-Fort Rock and Sisters Ranger Districts, with smoke expected to be visible in parts of Central Oregon.
Firefighters on the Sisters Ranger District are planning up to 42 acres of ignitions on the SAFR 9 and 78 prescribed burn units, located about one and a half miles south of Sisters, near the junction of Forest Service Road 16, also known as Three Creek Lake Road, and Forest Service Road 4606.
Ignitions are planned for about 10 a.m., and smoke will likely be visible from Forest Service Road 16, Sisters, Highway 20 and nearby areas. Residents in Sisters and the surrounding area are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed, especially overnight and in the early morning hours when smoke impacts are most likely.
No road or trail closures are anticipated for the Sisters-area burn.
On the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District, firefighters plan to continue prescribed burning on the Flank 4 Prescribed Burn, about 15 miles southeast of Bend on the west side of Forest Service Road 18, just north of the Forest Service Road 18 and Forest Service Road 25 junction near the Camp II OHV Staging Area.
Crews are planning up to 847 acres of ignitions over the next one to three days, with 100 acres planned Monday. Ignitions are also expected to begin around 10 a.m., and smoke may be visible from Highway 20 and portions of Bend.
Trail closures remain in place for the Opine OHV Trails System, including trails 020, 021, 025 and 028. The closures will stay in effect for several days while mop-up and patrol operations continue after the prescribed burn is complete.
Fire managers say prescribed burns help reduce fuels and protect homes and communities from future wildfires. Officials work with smoke specialists from the Oregon Department of Forestry to choose weather conditions that help carry smoke up and away from nearby communities, though some smoke during or after a burn is still likely.
Residents are advised to close doors and windows at night, use portable air cleaners if available and run central air systems with high-efficiency filters when possible. Drivers in smoky areas should slow down, turn on headlights and use recirculating air settings. People with heart or lung disease, asthma or other chronic conditions should monitor symptoms and contact a health care professional if they worsen.
More information about prescribed burning and smoke preparedness in Central Oregon is available at centraloregonfire.org. Forest-specific information is available at fs.usda.gov/deschutes.