Sisters Ranger District to continue pile burning operations this week

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Firefighters on the Sisters Ranger District will continue pile burning as favorable conditions exist this week, the Forest Service said Monday.

Starting as soon as Tuesday, firefighters will ignite piles in the following locations:

• Northwest of Sisters between Black Butte Ranch and Tollgate along Mainline Road
• West of Sisters along Forest Service Road 1505 near Edgington Road
• South of Sisters along Forest Service Roads 1605 and 4606

Smoke may be visible from Sisters, Black Butte Ranch and Tollgate subdivisions. Residents in these communities are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to help decrease smoke impacts.

Firefighters select pile burning units for ignition based on moisture levels, forecasted weather and conditions predicted to move smoke away from communities where possible. Piles may smolder, burn, and produce smoke for several days after ignition. Once ignited, firefighters monitor piles until they are declared 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. The piles are concentrations of leftover materials associated with vegetation management activities being done to reduce hazardous fuels loading along powerline corridors.

What does this mean for you?

The possibility exists for smoke to settle in low-lying areas due to cool night-time temperatures.

• 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 pile burning in Central Oregon

For more information on hazardous fuels reduction projects in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org/ or fs.usda.gov/deschutes and follow us on Twitter @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts.

This work is occurring within the Central Oregon Landscape, one of 21 focal landscapes identified within the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy. The implementation of this work supports the Deschutes National Forest’s commitment to addressing the Wildfire Crisis Strategy which aims to reduce severity of wildfires, protect communities, and improve the health and resiliency of fire-dependent forests.