Deschutes National Forest set to begin pile burning operations; over 11,500 acres planned this fall and winter

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Due to increased moisture and cooler weather, the Deschutes National Forest said Wednesday it plans to begin pile burning as early as Thursday.

Pile burning operations may occur intermittently through January 2027, based on conditions. Due to elevation differences units will be burned when conditions are appropriate to meet objectives, the forest said in Wednesday's announcement, which continues below:

The Deschutes National Forest may accomplish up to an estimated 11,560 acres of pile burning throughout the fall and winter season, including up to an estimated 8,900 acres on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District, 2,100 acres on the Crescent Ranger District, and 560 acres on the Sisters Ranger District.

Firefighters implement pile burning to reduce leftover vegetation generated from active forest management such as timber sales and pre-commercial thinning treatments. The piles are concentrations of leftover materials associated with vegetation management activities being done to help maintain and restore forest and ecosystem health while reducing hazardous fuels loading.

Piles may smolder, burn, and produce smoke for several days after ignition. Once ignited, firefighters monitor piles until they declare the piles out. Please do not report ignitions. While smoke may linger in the area, removing these large accumulations of woody debris during the winter months minimizes fire danger.

Pile burning operations are carefully planned and implemented under specific conditions. Firefighters work with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Oregon Department of Forestry smoke forecasters to identify conditions that will minimize smoke impacts on people and communities. While prescribed burn officials take significant preventive measures, it’s likely that communities may experience some smoke during or immediately after ignitions. Most smoke impacts occur during the night and early morning hours.

For more information on pile burning and smoke preparedness in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org/ and for information specific to the Deschutes National Forest visit fs.usda.gov/deschutes. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive prescribed burn text alerts. Follow along on X @CentralORFire.

About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation for more than 100 years. Grounded in world-class science and technology—and rooted in communities—the Forest Service connects people to nature and recreation opportunities. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, supports the nation’s forest industry and energy needs, and operates the largest and most respected wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. By providing assistance to state and private landowners and working with Tribes and other partners, the Forest Service also helps steward an additional 900 million forested acres within the U.S.