Wet conditions again delay planned 173-acre prescribed burn near Cascade Lakes Welcome Station SW of Bend

(Update: Rain delays burn to at least Wednesday)

No road, trail closures; more burns planned in area next week, if conditions allow

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Weekend rainfall has again prompted firefighters on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District to delay a 173-acre prescribed burn originally planned for Monday a half-mile northwest of the Cascade Lakes Welcome Station and about three miles southwest of Bend.

"The area received significant rain over the weekend, causing conditions that are too wet for effective prescribed burning operations," the Deschutes National Forest announced Monday.

Conditions were still too wet from the weekend rainfall as of Monday, Jaimie Olle, Deschutes National Forest public affairs specialist, said Tuesday morning.

"We'll be reassessing today for tomorrow (Wednesday)," Olle said.

Firefighters will continue with additional prescribed burn ignitions in this general area throughout the week, if conditions are favorable. No road or trail closures are associated with this prescribed burn.

Prescribed burning reintroduces and maintains fire within a fire-dependent ecosystem helping to stabilize and improve the resiliency of forest conditions while increasing public and firefighter safety by reducing hazardous fuels. Once firefighters ignite prescribed burns, they monitor and patrol the units until they declare the burn out.

Smoke will be visible from the city of Bend and surrounding areas. Flaggers and signage will be on Cascade Lakes Highway in the event that smoke impacts the roadway. The Tetherow and Widgi Creek communities and areas south and east of the Deschutes River may experience smoke impacts. Residents are encouraged to keep windows closed to minimize smoke impacts.

Prescribed burns can protect homes from tragic wildfires. Fire management officials work with Oregon Department of Forestry smoke specialists to plan prescribed burns. Prescribed burns are conducted when weather is most likely to move smoke up and away from our communities. Sometimes, weather patterns change, and some smoke will be present during prescribed burns.

What does this mean for you?

During prescribed burns, smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight.

• All residents are encouraged to close windows at night to avoid smoke impacts
• When driving in smoky areas, drivers should slow down and turn on headlights
• If you have heart or lung disease, asthma, or other chronic conditions, ask your doctor about how to protect yourself from smoke
• Go to centraloregonfire.org to learn more about smoke safety and prescribed burning in Central Oregon

For more information on prescribed burning in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org/ and for information specific to the Deschutes National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/deschutes. Follow on Twitter @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts.