Pile-burning set near La Pine, Sunriver, W. of Bend

With weather forecasts predicting sustained fall weather conditions, Deschutes National Forest fuels specialists continue to burn piles across Central Oregon. As part of this pile-burning effort, the Deschutes National Forest intends to begin burning piles in several additional locations that will be highly visible beginning Thursday.

Specialists expect operations to continue for approximately one week as they burn piles in the following locations: 1) near La Pine between Huntington Road and the railroad tracks, about a mile southeast of La Pine Fire Station 102, 2) three miles west of Sunriver, near Forest Service Road 41, and 3) west of Bend near the Skyliner Community off of Skyliners Road (Forest Service Rd 4601).

No closures are anticipated with these operations. However, smoke will be visible along: 1) Highway 97 near Vandervert Road and Huntington Road, 2) Forest Service Road 41 near Sunriver, and 3) Skyliners Road (Forest Service Rd 4601) for several days post ignitions.

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 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.

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