Prescribed burns underway for a second day NE of La Pine, NW of Sisters

(Update: Wednesday prescribed burns begin)

Maps below of planned 2024 prescribed burns on Bend-Fort Rock, Sisters ranger districts

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Two prescribed burns are continuing for a second day Wednesday on the Bend-Fort Rock and Sisters ranger districts, Deschutes National Forest officials said.

Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District firefighters are conducting prescribed burn operations adjacent to Paulina Lake Road, bout six miles northeast of La Pine and two miles east of the Newberry Estates subdivision.

Ignitions are planned for up to 248 acres (Odin North 15) along Paulina Lake Road.

Smoke will be visible from La Pine, Highway 97, Paulina Lake Road and the surrounding area. Residents in the Newberry Estates subdivision are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts.

Road and trail closures are not anticipated, although the public is asked to use caution where fire traffic and firefighters are present. Paulina Lake Road may experience smoke impacts. Signage will be in place and drivers are asked to slow down and turn on headlights. If conditions are favorable, ignitions may continue on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Sisters Ranger District firefighters plan to conduct prescribed burn ignitions four miles northwest of Sisters adjacent to the east side of Highway 20 near Zimmerman Pit (Hwy. 20 North Unit 87) on up to 63 acres.

The public is asked to avoid Zimmerman Pit and Forest Service Road 500 east of Highway 20. Smoke will be visible from Highway 20, Sisters and the surrounding area.

Flames may be visible from Highway 20. Drivers are asked slow down and turn on headlights. Flaggers and signage will be used as needed. Residents in the area are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts.

The Forest Service is conducting this burn in cooperation with Oregon Department of Forestry and an adjacent private landowner.

Road and trail closures are not anticipated, although the public is asked to use caution where fire traffic and firefighters are present. Three Creek Lake Road may experience some smoke impacts. Signage will be in place and drivers are asked to slow down and turn on headlights.

If conditions are favorable, ignitions may continue Thursday, for a total of over 700 acres.

"Prescribed burning reintroduces and maintains fire within a fire-dependent ecosystem, helping to stabilize and improve the resiliency of forest conditions while increasing public and firefighter safety," the Forest Service says.

Once firefighters ignite prescribed burns, they patrol the units until they declare the burn out.

These prescribed burns are occurring within the Central Oregon Landscape, one of 21 focal landscapes identified within the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy. The implementation of this prescribed burn supports the Deschutes National Forest’s commitment to addressing the Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which aims to reduce severity of wildfires, protect communities, and improve the health and resiliency of fire-dependent forests.

Prescribed burns can protect homes from tragic wildfires, the Forest Service says. Fire management officials work with Oregon Department of Forestry smoke specialists to plan prescribed burns. Prescribed burns are conducted when weather is most likely to move smoke up and away from our communities. While prescribed fire managers take significant preventive measures, it’s likely that communities may experience some smoke during or immediately after a prescribed burn. 

What does this mean for you?

During prescribed burns, smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight.

• All residents are encouraged to close windows at night to avoid smoke impacts
• When driving in smoky areas, drivers should slow down, turn on headlights and turn air to recirculating
• If you have heart or lung disease, asthma, or other chronic conditions, ask your doctor about how to protect yourself from smoke
• Go to centraloregonfire.org to learn more about smoke safety and prescribed burning in Central Oregon

For more information on prescribed burning in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org/ and for information specific to the Deschutes National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/deschutes. Follow on X/Twitter @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts.

Here are maps of planned prescribed burns this year on the Bend-Fort Rock and Sisters ranger districts: