Prescribed fire near Black Butte Ranch postponed

Fuel specialists have postponed a prescribed fire that was planned for Wednesday adjacent to Black Butte Ranch in the Glaze Meadow area.

The approximately 70 acre burn was postponed due to a revised forecast by the National Weather Service predicting high winds in the area for the afternoon. The burn has not yet been rescheduled.

The prescribed fire planned adjacent to Black Butte Ranch is part of the Glaze Meadow Restoration Project, a project which was accomplished through close collaboration between the Forest Service, public, and representatives from both the environmental and timber communities.

Project goals include improving wildlife habitat and minimizing the potential of future high intensity wildfires.

Black Butte Ranch and Highway 20 may be impacted by smoke as a result of this project, when it occurs

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.

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 National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/centraloregon and follow us on twitter @CentralORFire.

Meanwhile, fuels specialists also decided to postpone a prescribed fire that was planned Wednesday east of Highway 97 and 1 miles west of Horse Butte along the south side of Bend.

“Overnight rains put too much moisture on the fire area for fuels to remain dry enough to burn,” the late Tuesday morning update said. “There are no immediate plans to reschedule.”

The 113-acre unit is located within the congressionally designated Deschutes Skyline Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration boundary which receives funding towards accelerated forest restoration.

Project objectives include reducing hazardous fuels and creating defensible space within the wildland urban interface.

When conducted, Ignitions are expected to last one day, with patrols continuing as needed.

For more information, please visit the “Prescribed Fires” link on the Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests website, http://www.fs.usda.gov/centraloregon and follow us on Twitter @CentralORFire