Slash piles to be burned along Cascade Lakes Highway

Deschutes National Forest fuels specialists plan to ignite slash piles along Cascade Lakes Highway near Wanoga Sno-Park, Mt. Bachelor and Elk Lake beginning Wednesday. Ignitions are expected to take place for the rest of the week.

Smoke from these piles could be visible from Bend and could last into next week, officials said Tuesday. Please do not report smoke from these slash piles, they asked.

Fuels specialists continue to monitor piles until they are declared out.

They ollow 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 Deschutes website at