Prescribed burn planned Monday SW of Crescent

The Crescent Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest is planning a prescribed burn northwest of Crescent on Monday, if conditions are favorable.

The prescribed burn area is located about 6 miles northwest of Crescent. The 148-acre area (HAM 1 & 2) is located adjacent to Forest Service Roads 4680 and 4678, about a mile north of Black Rock gravel pit.

Firefighters are planning to complete ignitions on Monday, but if that is not possible, then operations may continue on Tuesday.

Smoke may be visible from areas on Highway 97, the Cascade Lakes Highway, and Crescent Cutoff/County Road 61. No road closures are anticipated.

“This prescribed burn will help restore the mixed conifer ecosystem by restoring low-intensity fire while also reducing hazardous fuels producing defensible space to local communities,” Saturday’s 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 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.