Prescribed burns planned Tuesday near Sunriver

Fuels specialists are planning a highly visible burn of three units near Sunriver Tuesday, officials said. Ignitions are expected to be finished by the end of the day.

Fuels specialists first will burn a 61-acre section adjacent to and east of Sunriver along County Road 40. The next one totals 40 acres and will take place a mile northwest of Sugar Pine Butte along Forest Road 9720.

If weather conditions remain favorable, fuels specialists will attempt the final, 12 acre burn mile southeast of the High Desert Museum.

These burns are located within the congressionally designated Deschutes Skyline Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration, which receives funding toward accelerated forest restoration and is part of an Oregon State University study evaluating short- and long-term effects of four silviculture treatments on stand structural development.

The objective for these burns is to reduce fuels and restore forest health in areas that were historically maintained by frequent low intensity fire.

No road closures are anticipated with any of the projects, although drivers can expect road flaggers on Road 40 into Sunriver during periods of time where dense smoke may limit visibility. If smoke drifts on to local roads, motorists should slow down, turn on headlights, and proceed with care.

Fuels specialists will follow policies outlined in the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan, which governs prescribed fires, and attempts to minimize impacts to visibility and public health. Once ignited, units are monitored and patrolled until they are declared out.

For more information, visit the Deschutes National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/deschutes and follow us on Twitter @CentralORFire.