Prescribed burning planned along Millican Road
Favorable weather conditions are allowing fuels specialists with the Bureau of Land Management, Prineville District Office, to continuing with their winter prescribed burning program.
Specialists will begin prescribed burning Tuesday along both sides of Millican Road, seven miles southwest of Prineville. The area has been open this past year for juniper firewood cutting, and BLM officials said the prescribed burning is an effective way to clean up leftover slash and keep the landscape healthy and productive.
Crews plan to burn 525 acres over the course of three to four days. No road closures are expected. Smoke will be visible along Millican Road, and potentially from Highway 26 near the Prineville Airport. Signs will be placed along Millican Road informing motorists of the prescribed burn. In the event that smoke drifts onto Millican Road, motorists should turn on their headlights, reduce speed and proceed slowly through the area.
All prescribed burning is highly dependent on favorable temperature, moisture and wind conditions. Prescribed burns are started when the conditions are right to meet the objectives of the burn and while minimizing smoke impacts to any nearby communities. Millican Road and the burn areas will be patrolled during and following ignitions. All prescribed burns are completed in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan. For more information about this project or prescribed burning, please contact the Prineville BLM at (541) 416-6700.
