Two prescribed burns completed three miles south of Sisters and five miles east of Sunriver

(Update: Prescribed burns completed, mop-up underway)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – On Monday, after successful test fires, firefighters on the Deschutes National Forest conducted prescribed burn operations on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District and the Sisters Ranger District.

Firefighters transition to mop-up on both burns, securing the perimeters and cooling hot spots, officials said.

On the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District, firefighters conducted prescribed burn operations about 10 miles south of Bend and five miles east of Sunriver. Firefighters ignited 87 acres east of Highway 97, near the Exit 153 interchange and directly north of Forest Service Road 9720.

Ignitions on Rocket Unit 5 began around 10 a.m. Officials advised that smoke would be highly visible from Highway 97, Bend, La Pine and Sunriver. Sunriver and south Bend might experience some smoke impacts. Highway 97 was monitored for smoke impacts. Signage was in place and drivers were asked to slow down and turn on headlights.

Road and trail closures were not anticipated, although the public is asked to use caution and slow down where fire traffic and firefighters are present along Forest Service Road 9720. This area has been previously thinned and mowed prior to returning low-intensity fire through prescribed burning.

On the Sisters Ranger District, firefighters conducted up to 107 acres of prescribed burning on Sisters Area Fuels Reduction (SAFR) Unit 15 about 2 1/2 miles south of Sisters, adjacent to Three Creek Lake Road (Forest Service Road 16) and directly southeast of the Lower Whychus Trailhead.

Ignitions began around 9 a.m. Smoke was visible from Sisters, Three Creek Lake Road and the surrounding area. Residents in the Sisters and Plainview areas were encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts.

Road and trail closures were not anticipated, although the public is asked to use caution where fire traffic and firefighters are present. Officials advised Three Creek Lake Road might experience some smoke impacts. Signage was in place and drivers were asked to slow down and turn on headlights.

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, the Forest Service said. Once firefighters ignite prescribed burns, they patrol the units until they declare the burn out.

These prescribed burns are occurring within the Central Oregon Landscape, one of 21 focal landscapes identified within the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy. The implementation of these prescribed burns 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.

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. While prescribed fire managers take significant preventive measures, it’s likely that communities may experience some smoke during or immediately after a prescribed burn. 

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, turn on headlights and turn air to recirculating
• 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 X/Twitter @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts.