Three visible pile burns planned to start Wednesday

Beginning Wednesday and continuing as conditions allow, specialists will begin three higher-visibility pile burning operations on the Deschutes National Forest.

They are: 1) along Cottonwood Road in Sunriver near the wastewater treatment plant, 2) near Lava Lands Visitor Center, and 3) adjacent to Highway 97 between State Recreation and Vandervert roads.

Smoke from these operations could be visible from Highway 97 as well as Sunriver and La Pine, officials said

No closures are anticipated with these operations. However, if smoke drifts on to roads, motorists should slow down, turn on headlights, and proceed with care. Once ignited, units are monitored by firefighters until they are declared out.

Higher-visibility pile burning operations on Pine Mountain, 20 miles southeast of Bend, near the Pine Mountain Observatory and in the Juniper Canyon area, 10 miles south of Prineville, adjacent to the Prineville Lake Acres subdivision are delayed until more moisture is received.

Fuels specialists follow policies outlined in the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan, which governs prescribed fires (including pile burning) and attempts to minimize impacts to visibility and public health.

For more information, visit the Ochoco/Deschutes website at www.fs.usda.gov/centraloregon and follow us on twitter @CentralORFire.