Warm Springs begins its largest prescribed burn ever

A major prescribed burn got underway Tuesday on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation — the biggest conducted by tribal officials — while two smaller ones will be ignited near Sisters later in the week.

A burn that size normally takes weeks, but thanks to a helicopter and some special pingpong balls, they can do it a few days.

NewsChannel 21’s Wanda Moore has a report coming up at 5 and 6 on how these burns are conducted and how these special pingpong balls are revolutionizing how these burns are conducted..

Tribal officials said the smoke will be visible from the Madras area.

Meanwhile, fuels specialists on the Sisters Ranger District plan to ignite two prescribed burns outside of Sisters beginning as early as Wednesday.

If conditions remain favorable, 83 acres within the SAFR NE Unit boundary will be ignited on Wednesday. These units are two miles west of Sisters on the north side of Highway 242, immediately west of Tollgate Subdivision.

A second prescribed burn is planned two miles west of Camp Sherman for Thursday. Fuels specialists are looking to ignite 143 acres within the Wildland Urban Interface.

Officials said the burns are designed to reduce hazardous fuels accumulations within the Wildland Urban Interface adjacent to Tollgate Subdivision, Camp Sherman and Sisters. The project will also reintroduce fire into a fire adapted ecosystem, increasing the resiliency of the forest.

Residences and businesses near these burn areas are advised to keep their windows and doors closed during the night hours to minimize any potential smoke impacts. While there are no road closures anticipated with either burn, drivers may experience smoke impacts on nearby roads.

If smoke drifts onto roads, motorists should slow down, turn on headlights, and proceed with caution.

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.

Keep up with prescribed burns in Central Oregon by visiting this live map: http://www.fs.usda.gov/deschutes