A 72-acre prescribed fire is complete in Shevlin Park which was implemented on Tuesday, Oct. 15, and the park will be closed for the day. To maintain and restore forest health and reduce the potential negative effects of a severe wildfire in Shevlin Park, Bend Park and Recreation District is using prescribed fire as part of its vegetation management plan for the park. BPRD reintroduced prescribed fire to Shevlin Park in 2017 and has burned 150 acres total in the past two years.
The prescribed fire area is located in two areas. First, a 40-acre unit is in the newly expanded portion of Shevlin Park that was a former tree farm. In addition, 22 acres in the Fremont Meadow area on the other side of Tumalo Creek will be burned.
Signage is in place to inform park visitors about the fire and park closure. Staff will also be on-site at key trailheads to alert anyone about the fire and closure.
The Deschutes National Forest will lead the burn with support and assistance from the park district’s Natural Resources team. Other partners include Bend Fire Department, Project Wildfire, Deschutes County and Central Oregon Community College.
The prescribed fire should be completed in a day or two. Once it is safe to reopen the park, signage will be removed and areas will be available for recreation.
During the active burning period nearby residents and park visitors will see and smell smoke. People are encouraged to keep their doors and windows closed during the burning and the evening following the burning to reduce impacts from smoke.
Most smoke should move out of the area within a day or two though there may be some smoldering for multiple days.
Firefighters and district staff will monitor the area for several days following the burn.
More information on fire management is here.
