Prescribed burn planned this week near McKay Creek

Fire managers on the Ochoco National Forest plan to conduct a 200-acre under burn near McKay Creek this week, about 14 miles northeast of Prineville, as weather conditions permit.

This prescribed burn is part of an ongoing series of treatments in the area to restore fire to a fire-adapted forest ecosystem, reduce hazardous fuel loading, and improve range conditions for livestock and big game.

The project is funded in part by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

The unit received ample moisture last week and conditions are still very wet in places, so fire intensity is expected to be very low, officials said Monday

The unit is located west of Forest Road 27 along Forest Road 2705, about a mile west of Salt Butte. View a map of current and proposed prescribed burn units in Central Oregon here: https://www.fs.fed.us/r6/webmaps/deschutes/cofms-rxfire/

Ignitions are planned to begin today and last for two to three days as needed to complete the unit. Smoke may impact portions of Forest Roads 27, 33 and 2705 during periods of active burning, but predicted winds are expected to disperse smoke accumulations fairly quickly.

All hunting camps in the area have been contacted and the unit has been signed.