Prescribed burns continue this weekend in Maury Mountains

Fire managers on the Ochoco National Forest have experienced two successful days of “jackpot” burning in the Upper Beaver units near Rager Ranger Station, and plan to continue burning juniper jackpots Saturday in the Maury Mountains.

The burning goal for Saturday in the eastern Maury Mountains is to undertake 200 acres of juniper jackpots in the Wiley Flat area, about 4 miles northeast of Antelope Flat Reservoir. If successful, fire managers plan to complete another 200 acres in the Maury Mountains on Sunday.

This will be in addition to completing the 800-acre treatment currently underway in the Upper Beaver units, about 15 miles northeast of Paulina, near Rager Ranger Station on the Paulina Ranger District.

Jackpot burning addresses high concentrations of thinning-related or naturally-occurring downed woody debris. It is not a broadcast burn or an underburn.

The goals for Saturday’s jackpot burning are to reduce hazardous fuels to prevent future high-intensity fire, while improving critical winter range for big game and creating better connectivity of sage grouse habitat.

Light smoke will be visible from both burns during ignition periods and may linger for several days, but no other impacts to forest visitors are expected.

All prescribed burning is dependent on weather and planned in accordance with smoke management standards administered by the state of Oregon.

If you want to receive email notifications prior to prescribed burns on the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland, send a request to Assistant Fire Management Officer Sam Pearcy at spearcy@fs.fed.us.

Visit this website for a virtual map of all current and planned prescribed burn units: http://go.usa.gov/c6CXR