Ochoco National Forest cancels Tuesday’s 898-acre prescribed burn NE of Prineville on Lookout Mtn. Ranger District

(Update: Tuesday burn canceled due to precipitation)

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Lookout Mountain Ranger District’s nearly 900-acre prescribed burn planned for Tuesday 15 miles northeast of Prineville, adjacent to Forest Service Road 27, has been cancelled due to precipitation over the prescribed burn area, officials said Monday.

"Firefighters will continue to look for future opportunities that align with wind and weather forecasts to complete this prescribed burn," the announcement said.

Here's the earlier announcement of the planned burn:

The prescribed burning unit is an 898-acre area, north of Highway 26 on the Lookout Mountain Ranger District of the Ochoco National Forest. It is located 15 miles northeast of Prineville, along the northern section of Forest Service Road 27, and south of FSR 2710.

Smoke will be visible from Redmond, Prineville, Madras, FSR 27 and the surrounding area. Smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight and residents of Prineville are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts.

Road and trail closures are not anticipated, although the public is asked to use caution where fire traffic and firefighters are present. Signage will be in place and drivers are asked to slow down and turn on headlights.

Burning in this unit is designed to reintroduce fire into a fire-adapted ecosystem, reduce hazardous fuels, reinvigorate grasses, and improve wildlife habitat. By reintroducing fire to the landscape under controlled conditions, the prescribed burn will help mitigate the risk of uncontrolled wildfires, protect valuable natural resources, and promote a more resilient forest ecosystem.

Once ignited, the burn will be monitored by firefighters, and they will mop-up and cool the fire perimeter. Firefighters will monitor the fire until it is declared out.

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