Prescribed burns planned near Grizzly Mtn., Cline Buttes

Fire managers on the Crooked River National Grassland plan to burn about 68 acres of slash piles along Highway 26 near the base of Grizzly Mountain starting Tuesday morning at 10 a.m.

This is the same burn project that firefighters attempted two weeks ago, but was canceled due to snow and rain. Managers are hoping to complete the burn tomorrow before predicted rain arrives later this week.

The juniper slash is left over from a thinning project and commercial firewood sale along the southern boundary of the Grassland, near Mile Post 16, about 8 miles northwest of Prineville.

Objectives for the burn are simply to remove leftover juniper slash material so land managers can reseed the area with native grasses.

Light smoke will be visible for one day during active ignitions, but is not expected to impact the highway or passing motorists.

Fuels specialists follow policies outlined in the Oregon Smoke Management Plan, which governs prescribed fires (including pile burning) and attempts to minimize impacts to visibility and public health.

Fire managers are planning this burn in coordination with Crook County Fire and Rescue and in observance of the weather and applicable air quality advisories.

“The Forest and Grassland appreciate public tolerance of temporary smoke conditions in support of this work,” officials said.

Meanwhile, fuels specialists with the Bureau of Land Management Prineville District Office will be continuing with their winter prescribed burning program this week in the Cline Buttes area, eight miles southwest of Redmond.

Temperatures, moisture and winds are favorable for crews to burn 555 acres of hand piles in the Tumalo and Maston trail areas along or near Cline Falls Highway. No road closures or delays are expected but smoke will be seen and may impact Cline Falls Highway north of Barr Road for short durations.

If visibility is compromised, burning will be discontinued. The project will take about two weeks to complete, as long as weather conditions remain favorable. The area will be patrolled following ignitions.

All controlled burns are completed in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan. For more information about prescribed burning, please contact the Prineville BLM at: (541) 416-6700, or see a complete listing of all the upcoming prescribed burning activities in your area: www.blm.gov/or/resources/fire/prescribedburns/index.php