BLM to begin La Pine-area fall pile burning this week with 192 acres off Masten Road

La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Incoming favorable weather, including the possibility of snow, is allowing fuels crews with the Prineville District of the Bureau of Land Management to begin burning piles in the La Pine area as part of their 2024-2025 fall/winter prescribed burning program. 

Beginning Thursday, crews will start burning 192 acres of machine piles in the Outback project. The piles are located south of La Pine, off of Masten Road and Forest Road 62.

The piles are concentrations of leftover materials from previous thinning projects designed to remove or reduce hazardous fuels that can burn during wildfires. Where possible, material is first offered for firewood, commercial sale, or biomass use; with some remaining material scattered to rehabilitate sites and close user-created routes. 

No road closures are planned; however, smoke may be present along nearby roads and may settle into nearby neighborhoods overnight. Motorists should reduce speed and turn on headlights when passing through smoky areas.

Piles may smolder, burn, and produce smoke for several days to even months after ignition and crews will continue to monitor the area to ensure fire doesn’t spread beyond the planned area. Prescribed burns are completed in accordance with the Oregon Department of Forestry Smoke Management Plan.

For more information about prescribed fires and/or the Prineville District’s Fuels Program, please contact the Prineville BLM at (541) 416-6700.