Prescribed burn planned on Crooked R. Grassland

Given favorable conditions, Ochoco National Forest fuels specialists will use prescribed fire to burn about 200 acres next week on the east side of the Crooked River National Grassland, in a project area known as “North Cyrus.”

Ignitions are expected to occur over one day, tentatively Wednesday, July 17th.

The North Cyrus project is located in between Highways 97 and 26 about 7 miles north east of Terrebonne and 12 miles north/northeast of Redmond, just south of the Cyrus Horse Camp.

In order to achieve the objectives of reducing hazardous densities of western juniper and improving wildlife forage and rangelands, fuels specialists need to burn under summer-like conditions. Ample firefighting resources will be in place in order to accommodate burning under these conditions.

No road closures are anticipated with this project. However, smoke will likely be highly visible from Redmond, Madras, Terrebonne, and Highways 97 and 26. If smoke drifts on to roads, motorists should slow down, turn on headlights, and proceed with care. Once ignited, projects are monitored by firefighters until they are declared out.

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. For more information, visit the Ochoco/Deschutes website at www.fs.usda.gov/centraloregon