558 N. Main St., Prineville, OR 97754 | (541) 447-6205
Fuels specialists with the Deschutes National Forest, Sisters Ranger District, will be starting a 60-acre prescribed burn adjacent to FS Road 300 near the southeast border of Black Butte Ranch today. The area has already been thinned and mowed, and fire will be used to keep hazardous fuels from building up and to restore forest health. This low- to moderate intensity underburn is expected to be completed today; patrols will take place immediately following ignitions, overnight as needed depending upon weather and environmental conditions, and continue throughout the weekend and next week as needed.
No road closures are anticipated with any of these burns; however, smoke may be visible from Black Butte Ranch, Highways 20 and 242, and other roads or recreation sites in the area. With cool nighttime temperatures, there is the potential for smoke to settle overnight in the Black Butte, Indian Ford and Camp Polk areas, although this should be of short duration. People should use caution as smoke may affect visibility and travel. If motorists encounter smoke as a result of the burning project, they should slow down, turn on headlights, and proceed with care. All burns are weather dependent and may be cancelled if conditions are not appropriate to complete the burn successfully.
Fuels specialists will follow policies outlined in the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan, which governs controlled burns, and attempts to minimize impacts to visibility and public health. For more information, visit the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center website at www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/fire or the Ochoco/Deschutes website at www.fs.usda.gov/centraloregon
