More prescribed burns planned around Central Oregon

(Update: FS corrects acreage on burn east of Prineville; Shevlin Park to close Wednesday for burn)

Firefighters ignited a prescribed burn Tuesday on unit COD #7, which is directly across Cascade Lakes Highway from the Rimrock Trailhead burn ignited Sunday that sent smoke swirling into Bend on Monday, officials said.

Several more burns are planned around the region in coming days, from Shevlin Park to east of Prineville.

Fire managers were closing sections of the new paved path around the undercrossing west of Bend for public safety during operations, the Deschutes National Forest reported.

Firefighters also were igniting a prescribed burn Tuesday on the Sisters Ranger District, Met WUI 16 & 30, for a total of 229 acres. This unit is located about 1 ½ miles south of Camp Sherman Store and 4 miles north of Black Butte Ranch. No road closures are associated with this burn.

On Wednesday, firefighters have scheduled a prescribed burn for units Shevlin Park 5 and 6A for a total of 95 acres on Bend Park and Recreation District property.

Due to the location of these units, the public could see smoke and drivers may experience smoke impacts on nearby highways and forest roads, officials said.

For all prescribed fires, signs will be posted on significant nearby forest roads and state highways that could be impacted. No road closures are anticipated with these projects. The public is encouraged to close their windows at night and if smoke is on the roadway, turn on headlights and slow down while traveling through smoky areas.

“The public’s health is important to the Forest Service,” the announcement said. “While significant preventive measures are taken, many factors influence a person’s susceptibility to smoke, including severity and duration of smoke exposure and a person’s health. If individuals feel impacted by smoke, they should avoid outdoor physical exertion and remain indoors. If people experience serious health impacts from the smoke, they should contact their doctor.

For more information about smoke and health, visit the Oregon Health Authority recommendations through this link: http://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/Preparedness/Prepare/Pages/PrepareForWildfire.aspx#health

Fuels specialists will follow policies outlined in the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan, which governs smoke from 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.fed.us/r6/webmaps/deschutes/cofms-rxfire/

For more information, visit the Deschutes National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/deschutes and follow on Twitter @CentralORFire.

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With the return of warmer weather and drying conditions in the Ochoco National Forest, fire managers hope to complete another fuels treatment in the McKay area just east of Prineville starting Thursday, if conditions allow.

Working in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, objectives for the burn include improving habitat and forage for big game and livestock, while introducing fire back into a fire-adapted Ponderosa pine and fir ecosystem.

Plans call for igniting grasses and other ground fuels in an underburn on about 550 acres, located 14 miles northeast of Prineville near the junction of Forest Service Roads 27 and 2705. Ignitions would begin late Thursday morning and may continue into Friday.

This burn is part of a larger 750-acre unit the Forest has been working on for several years. To see the unit boundaries for this project, as well as other planned treatments, visit our interactive map for Central Oregon prescribed burns at: https://www.fs.fed.us/r6/webmaps/deschutes/cofms-rxfire/

Smoke is expected to be most visible during active ignitions, but will linger above the burn unit and within adjacent forested areas for several days. Smoke will be most visible from Forest Roads 27, 2705 and 33, and on adjacent forest system roads. For all prescribed fires, signs will be posted on significant nearby forest roads and state highways that could be impacted. No road closures are anticipated with this project.

Fuels specialists will follow policies outlined in the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan, which governs smoke from prescribed fires (including pile burning), and attempts to minimize impacts to visibility and public health.

For more information, call (541) 316-7711 or follow online at http://centralorfireinfo.blogspot.com/ or on Twitter at @CentralORFire.

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Bend Park and Rec District release on Wednesday’s Shevlin Park burn:

A 94-acre prescribed fire is scheduled for Shevlin Park on Wednesday, and the park will be closed for the day.

To maintain and restore forest health and reduce the potential negative effects of a severe wildfire in Shevlin Park, Bend Park and Recreation District is using prescribed fire as part of its vegetation management plan for the park.

The prescribed fire area is located in the recently expanded area of Shevlin Park near the Tree Farm development. This is on the east (Bend) side of Tumalo Creek. See map here .

Signage is in place to inform park visitors about the fire and park closure. Staff will also be on-site at key trailheads to alert anyone about the fire and closure.

The Deschutes National Forest will lead the burn with support and assistance from the District’s Natural Resources team.

The prescribed fire should be completed in a day or two. Once it is safe to reopen the park, signage will be removed and areas will be available for recreation.

During the active burning period, nearby residents and park visitors will see and smell smoke. People are encouraged to keep their doors and windows closed during the burning and the evening following the burning to reduce impacts from smoke.

Most smoke should move out of the area within a day or two though there may be some smoldering for multiple days.

Firefighters and park district staff will monitor the area for several days following the burn.

For more information, visit http://www.bendparksandrec.org/about_us/maintenance/fire-management/.