Deschutes Natl. Forest, High Desert Museum partner on burn

The Deschutes National Forest partnered with the High Desert Museum for a controlled burn on both of their lands Wednesday, though the learning part of the day’s plans had to shift a day.

The just over 120-acre burn began around 10:30 a.m. It was an event a few years in the making. The Forest Service has been advising the museum on the importance of a prescribed burn.

“We really worked with Dana Whitelaw, the (museum) executive director and the board to say this is really important for this ecosystem, to reintroduce fire into this ecosystem where it’s been suppressed for so long. And it also adds that value of protection against a catastrophic wildfire,” said Kassidy Kern, public affairs specialist for the Deschutes National Forest.

Aside from a one-acre test plot, the area has not experienced a fire in about 100 years. Crews said the low-intensity burn will create a defensible space, protecting against catastrophic wildfires.

“This is a jewel in Central Oregon,” Kern said. “It’s in everybody’s best interest to protect it as best we can. We have the technical expertise to do it. They have the land. So it was a really good partnership for us to be able to say, ‘Let us lend a hand — we know how to do this.'”

In addition to reducing the threat of a large-scale wildfire, it was also planned to serve as an educational opportunity. The museum had planned on opening at noon and inviting the public to learn, with an up-close look at the burn through guided tours.

“We have strong partnerships with the Forest Service and the Nature Conservancy, in terms of interpretation and building cohesive messages around prescribed burns throughout the community,” Whitelaw said.

But after weather pushed back the burn and the museum opening several times, museum staff decided to stay closed Wednesday. They said rain was affecting the burn, and there was decreased visibility from heavy smoke.

The High Desert Museum instead will offer the tours Thursday at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.

The Bend Fire Department, which contracts with the museum, also used the burn as a learning opportunity.

“We’re going to be helping them,” Battalion Chief Dave Howe said. “We have one engine coming, a little bit of manpower, and they’re going to do some training, and kind of get ready for the fire season. All of our people fight brushfires.”