For Release: May 8, 2021
Burn will be very visible to residents of Bend and temporarily close some bike trails
Bend, Ore— This Monday and Tuesday, fire and fuel specialists with the Deschutes National Forest will conduct prescribed fire operations adjacent to Bend and within the Phil’s Trail and Welcome Station area. The prescribed burn will be visible to residents of Bend and travelers along Century Drive.
The area for the prescribed burns is located south of Phil’s Trailhead and includes portions of Ticket to Ride, COD-Alt, COD-Paint It Black, and COD-Rock Stacker, which will be closed during fire operations. Forest Service Road 4604 also will be closed along with several smaller Forest Service Roads. Closed roads and trails will be signed.
Specialists will underburn approximately 375 acres. Ignitions are expected to take two days and will occur between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day.
Smoke and residual burning will be visible in the area for up to a week post ignition. Subdivisions and neighborhoods on the west side of Bend can expect some nighttime and early morning smoke impacts after the burn. Trails will reopen once deemed safe.
The objective of this prescribed burn is to reintroduce fire into a fire evolved ecosystem and to reduce the potential impacts of a wildfire coming into Bend and Century Drive.
The public can find an interactive map of prescribed burns as well as air quality information at this link: https://www.centraloregonfire.org/wildfire-smoke-air-quality-maps-2/ If the public wants to sign up for text alerts about prescribed fires and wildfires they should text COFIRE to 888-777.
The public is encouraged to close their windows at night and if smoke is on the roadway, turn on headlights and slow down while traveling through smoky areas. The public’s health is important to the Forest Service. While significant preventive measures are taken, many factors influence a person’s susceptibility to smoke, including severity and duration of smoke exposure and a person’s health. If individuals feel impacted by smoke, they should avoid outdoor physical exertion and remain indoors. If people experience serious health impacts from the smoke, they should contact their doctor. For more information about smoke and health, visit the Oregon Health Authority recommendations through this link: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/Preparedness/Prepare/Pages/PrepareForWildfire.aspx#health
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