More prescribed burns planned in coming days
Deschutes National Forest fuel specialists on the Bend-Ft. Rock Ranger District plan to conduct two prescribed fires, one beginning this Friday (September 27 th ) and one early next week.
Depending on the amount of rainfall received over the next few days, beginning this Friday, fuels specialists plan to burn up to 1,200 acres south of China Hat Road (FS Road 18) near Boyd Cave OR up to 428 acres on Wickiup Butte 18 miles west of La Pine near the Wickiup Reservoir Dam.
The units south of China Hat Road may create smoke impacts to the southeast side of Bend as well as along China Hat Road and FS Road 1820. The units on Wickiup Butte may create smoke impacts to the Haner Park, Ponderosa Estates, and Wild River subdivisions as well as along Burgess Road (FS Road 43) and FS Roads 44 and 4260.
Also, early next week fuels specialists plan to burn about 80 acres within the Lava Cast Forest, seven miles east of Sunriver. To ensure safe and successful implementation, FS Road 9720 will be closed between the FS Road 800 and FS Road 9710 junctions during operations.
Due to the size and locations of these units, the public will see plumes of smoke from many locations within Bend and the greater Central Oregon area.
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.
