BLM to burn hand piles southwest of Tumalo

Favorable weather conditions are allowing fuels specialists with the Bureau of Land Management’s Prineville District to continue their winter prescribed burning program. Fuels crews will be burning 130 acres of hand piles south of Tumalo Reservoir Road, about three miles southwest of Tumalo. “The prescribed burning program is a great example of BLM supporting conservation as we pursue our multiple-use mission for the benefit of current and future generations,” the announcement said. Specialists hope to begin prescribed burning Wednesday, with burning occurring on up to four days over the next several weeks. Crews will only burn on days when weather conditions are warm enough for the piles to be completely consumed and wind conditions are favorable to moving smoke out of the area as quickly as possible. No road closures are expected. Smoke will be visible along Tumalo Reservoir Road. Signs will be placed informing motorists of the prescribed burn. In the event that smoke drifts onto Tumalo Reservoir Road or other roads in the area, motorists should turn on their headlights, reduce speed and proceed slowly through the area. All prescribed burning is highly dependent on favorable temperature, moisture and wind conditions. Prescribed burns are started when the conditions are right to meet the objectives of the burn and while minimizing smoke impacts to any nearby communities. Tumalo Reservoir Road and the burn areas will be patrolled during and following ignitions. All prescribed burns are completed in cooperation with the State of Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan. For more information about this project or prescribed burning, please contact the Prineville BLM at (541) 416-6700. Additional information about fire in the Pacific Northwest is available online at: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/oregon-washington