Ochoco National Forest plans two prescribed burns
If conditions remain favorable, fire managers on the Ochoco National Forest will be burning two units next week. The burn units are located in the general area west of Ochoco Guard Station going up Duncan Creek and near Walton Lake.
On Tuesday, fire management is planning burn operations on the Lunch 1 unit. This 409-acre unit is located five miles east from the junction of Hwy 26 and County road 23, two miles up Duncan Creek road/Forest Service spur road 100. This unit was previously thinned. Burning the leftover slash will improve forage availability, wildlife habitat and winter range while also reducing fuel loading to lessen wildfire severity in the future.
The Canyon 20 unit will be burned later in the week. Fire managers are watching forecasted weather patterns and are looking at Thursday to underburn this 371-acre unit. Canyon 20 is located a half a mile west of Walton Lake just off of the 22 road. Reintroducing fire back into a fire adapted ecosystem will improve wildlife habitat and reduce hazardous fuel loadings to help lessen wildfire severity in the future.
The public may see smoke in the area of the burns for multiple days. If driving in the area please drive slow and with your headlights on.
For current Central Oregon prescribed fire information visit www.centraloregonfire.org or follow us Twitter at CentralORfire.
