Ochoco National Forest begins fall, winter pile burning
Fire managers plan to burn piles of slash left over from thinning projects in several units this fall across the Ochoco National Forest, as weather conditions allow, officials said Tuesday.
Forest officials said burning slash piles in the fall is a safe way to remove hazardous fuels from the forest and reduce the potential for high-intensity wildfires during the summer months.
Plans call for ignitions of piles on 200 to 300 acres in the McKay area about 12 miles northeast of Prineville beginning Wednesday and continuing through Thursday.
These piles are part of the AMP project, which includes around 3,200 acres of proposed treatments south of McKay Creek, along Forest Service Roads 27 and 33 in the Green Mountain vicinity.
Pile burning is preparation for a proposed prescribed burn treatment in the AMP project area that could occur next year or in coming years.
This week’s pile burning only includes a portion of that unit, up to 300 acres. Light smoke will be visible from Prineville and may impact dispersed camping sites along Forest Service Roads 27 and 33.
No pile burning is planned this Saturday or Sunday, because it is the opening weekend for mule deer rifle hunting season.
This week’s proposed treatments are not in areas with roads, so impacts to visitors are expected to be minimal.
Firefighters packed fuel into the burn units on Monday using a pack string because the area does not have motor vehicle access. Workers will hike in Wednesday and Thursday to complete the pile burning operations.
This fall and winter, firefighters will also look for opportunities to ignite slash piles in the HEJ project area, which includes around 1,100 acres just north of Big Summit Prairie, located on both sides of Forest Service Road 22. Public notifications will be sent out when firefighters propose pile burning in that unit.
For current Central Oregon wildfire and prescribed fire information visit www.centraloregonfire.org or follow on Twitter: @ CentralORFire .
