Prescribed burn planned near Sisters, Crescent

Given favorable weather conditions, Deschutes National Forest fuel specialists on the Sisters Ranger District plan to conduct a prescribed burn on Tuesday.

The prescribed fire area is 2 miles north of Sisters, adjacent to the Sage Meadow and near the Sage Woods communities. The 154-acre unit is also mile south and west of the Indian Ford community, of a mile northwest of the Crooked Horseshoe community.

Burning in this unit is designed to decrease hazardous fuels accumulations within the Wildland Urban Interface adjacent to the city of Sisters and surrounding communities to reduce the risk of high intensity wildfire.

Due to the location of these units, the public could see smoke and drivers may experience smoke impacts on nearby highways and forest roads, officials said.

For all prescribed fires, signs will be posted on significant nearby forest roads and state highways that could be impacted.

No road closures are anticipated with these projects. Residences and businesses in the area are advised to keep their windows and doors closed during the night hours to avoid any potential smoke impacts.

Fuels specialists will 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.

Meanwhile, prescribed burning season will begin Wednesday on the Crescent Ranger District with a 111-acre burn near Boundary Springs Campground.

If conditions remain favorable, fuels specialists will complete the burn in units located between Forest Road 9768 and the Boundary Springs Campground along Walker Rim, about six miles southeast of Crescent.

Officials said the purpose of the prescribed fire is to reduce ground fuels and the number/density of seedlings and sapplings-sized trees to create larger trees more resistant to insects and disease and resilient to withstand wildfire.

Smoke could be visible from the surrounding areas. While no closures are anticipated with these operations, 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.

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.

Keep up with prescribed burns in Central Oregon by visiting this live map: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/webmaps/deschutes/cofms-rxfire/

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