Sisters Ranger District plans Monday prescribed burn
(Update: More details from Jefferson County)
The Sisters Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest is planning a prescribed burn on Monday, if conditions remain favorable.
The prescribed burn area is located about 25 miles west of Culver and 28 miles north of Sisters. The 275-acre unit (Flymon 6) is located on Forest Service Road 1170 just east of Forest Service Road 11.
Jefferson County Undersheriff Marc Heckathorn said the burn will take place about five miles west of the Three Rivers subdivision.
He said the smoke column from this burn may be visible from Three Rivers, Culver and Crooked River Ranch. as well as to travelers within a 40+ mile radius. Wind directions are forecast out of the east, but smoke impacts are expected to be minimal.
Active ignitions will begin around 9 a.m. and should be complete by 4 p.m. Resources will remain on scene. Active mop-up will occur and the unit will be patrolled throughout the week.
Forest Service officials said the project will help improve wildlife habitat by reducing juniper and bitterbrush and will restore the Ponderosa pine ecosystem by reintroducing low-intensity fire. The prescribed burn will also help reduce fuels, increasing safety to nearby communities. Nearby roads will be signed, but no road closures are expected.
The public’s health is important to the Forest Service, the agency 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.
