Update on Deschutes Forest prescribed burn plans
Due to conditions not favoring smoke dispersion away from Bend, Deschutes National Forest fuels specialists will not be burning Monday a 138-acre area 12 miles southeast of Bend near Company Butte and the intersection of China Hat Road (FS Road 18) and FS Road 1825, as previously advised.
Instead, prescribed fire operations today will be located on Wickiup Butte, 18 miles west of La Pine, near the Wickiup Reservoir Dam.
Approximately 100 acres within this 428-acre area were burned on September 27 th . On Monday,, specialists plan to burn an additional 148 acres. Operations may create smoke impacts to the Haner Park, Ponderosa Estates, and Wild River subdivisions as well as along Burgess Road (FS Road 43) and FS Roads 44 and 4260.
Plans to burn 80 acres within the Lava Cast Forest, seven miles east of Sunriver, are also likely delayed due to smoke concerns, but this will depend on weather conditions. FS Road 9720 will not be closed between FS Road 800 and FS Road 9710 until operations are rescheduled.
Plans to burn 123 acres in the Metolius Basin Research Natural Area, 1.5 miles northeast of the Camp Sherman store and 1 mile south of the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery on the east side of FS Road 14, are tentatively planned for Wednesday. Smoke from these operations may impact the Camp Sherman area including the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery and the Allen Springs, Pioneer Ford and Lower Bridge campgrounds.
Additionally, fuels specialists with the Crescent Ranger District will use prescribed fire to burn approximately 81 acres beginning Wednesday near the Two Rivers North and Cascade Estates subdivisions and Highway 58, seven miles southwest of Crescent. Smoke could impact the subdivisions as well as Highway 58 in the vicinity of mile post 80 and FS Road 5825.
For more information, visit the Ochoco/Deschutes website at www.fs.usda.gov/centraloregon and follow us on twitter @CentralORFire. Subsequent news releases and “tweets” will follow to provide updates on these potential operations.