Open house on Metolius Basin prescribed burns
The Sisters Ranger District will host two opportunities for the public to offer feedback related to prescribed fire in the Metolius Basin.
On Monday, March 10 th , forest officials will host two open house events at the Camp Sherman Community Center, at 10:00am-12:00 pm and 5:30pm-7:00 pm.
Several prescribed fires are planned for this spring and fall during site-specific “windows” based on air temperatures, relative humidity, fuels moistures, predicted smoke dispersion, and wind speed and direction. The durations of these prescriptive windows can vary, thereby limiting suitable burn opportunities.
Units planned for 2014 in the Metolius Basin include the following:
Metolius Basin 1720 – up to 300 acres off of Forest Road 100, southwest of Camp Sherman
1425 RX – up to 400 acres off of Forest Road 1425
Metolius WUI – up to 200 acres off of Forest Road 1217 in vicinity of Allingham Guard Station
Metolius RNA Units – 96 acres mile northeast of the Gorge Campground
Prescribed fire in the Metolius Basin will help restore Ponderosa pine forest ecosystems to a more natural and healthy stand density by restoring the role of low intensity fire, thereby minimizing the risk of future high intensity wildfires through modification of fuels and their arrangement.
Prescribed fire carries great responsibility and inherent risk that we must manage as we strive to preserve the legacy of our forests and the natural fire with which they have evolved.
Contact Sisters Ranger District Fuels Program Manager Jinny Reed at 541.549.7644, or Fuels Technician Trevor Miller at 541.549.7638, for further information or to be placed on a notification list.
