The Source For Comprehensive Fire, Health, And Air Quality Information In Central Oregon

Wildland fire crews will burn slash from forest thinning starting next week. The burning will take place in the Canyon #66 and AMP #1 prescribed fire units, totaling about 100 acres and 200 acres of piles and thinning slash in the two areas respectively.

The Crescent Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest is planning a prescribed burn on Monday, October 29, if conditions are favorable.

The prescribed burn area is located about 6 miles northwest of Crescent. The 148 acre area (HAM 1 & 2) is located adjacent to Forest Service Roads 4680 and 4678, about 1 mile north of Black Rock gravel pit. Firefighters are planning to complete ignitions on Monday, but if that is not possible then operations may continue on Tuesday. Smoke may be visible from areas on Highway 97, the Cascade Lakes Highway, and Crescent Cutoff/County Road 61. No road closures are anticipated. This prescribed burn will help restore the mixed conifer ecosystem by restoring low intensity fire while also reducing hazardous fuels producing defensible space to local communities.

Prineville, Oregon — After a hiatus from prescribed burning the last five days due to regional air stagnation, forecasted weather conditions favorable to burning on the Ochoco National Forest will allow fire managers to resume burning on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. The National Weather Service “air stagnation” warning will be lifted Tuesday morning. Forecasted winds show south to southwest winds coming into the area, which are expected to push the smoke out of communities in Crook County. A chance of rain is forecasted later in the week to follow the planned Tuesday and Wednesday ignitions.

Central Oregon –The Sisters Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest is planning a prescribed burn on Monday, October 22, if conditions remain favorable.

The prescribed burn area is located about 25 miles west of Culver and 28 miles north of Sisters. The 275 acre unit (Flymon 6) is located on Forest Service Road 1170 just east of Forest Service Road 11. The project will help improve wildlife habitat by reducing juniper and bitterbrush and will restore the ponderosa pine ecosystem by reintroducing low intensity fire. The prescribed burn will also help reduce fuels, increasing safety to nearby communities. Nearby roads will be signed, but no road closures are expected.

Due to poor transport winds to move smoke out of the area and conditions not meeting prescription on the unit, Canyon 20 planned ignitions for tomorrow (Thursday) have been postponed.  If conditions are favorable on Friday, fire managers are prepared to burn the Claypool Springs unit out near Spears Meadow.