Prescribed burns planned near Hole in the Ground
The Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District on the Deschutes National Forest is planning prescribed burns on Monday and Tuesday north of Hole in the Ground.
The two burn units, Mx 2G and Mx 2E, are located about five miles north of Hole in the Ground and 22 miles southeast of La Pine, officials said Sunday.
If conditions remain favorable, crews will burn approximately 300 acres on Monday and 743 acres on Tuesday.
Due to the location, the public may see smoke in the Fort Rock area and along Hwy 31. Signs will be posted on significant nearby Forest roads and state highways that could be impacted. No road closures are anticipated with these projects. If smoke is on the roadway, turn on headlights and slow down while traveling through smoky areas.
These units were previously prescribed burned in 2006 and officials said the project will help maintain reduced hazardous fuels as well as improve wildlife habitat and forest health. These second-entry prescribed fires help reintroduce and maintain the fire-adapted landscape with fire.
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 a live map on http://www.centraloregonfire.org/. For more information, visit the Deschutes website at www.fs.usda.gov/deschutes and follow on Twitter @CentralORFire.
