Crescent Ranger District plans 51-acre prescribed burn six miles SW of Crescent

CRESCENT, Ore. (KTVZ) – Firefighters on the Crescent Ranger District plan to ignite up to 51 acres in a prescribed burn six miles southwest of Crescent, 1 1/2 miles west of Highway 97 and a half-mile from Highway 58, near milepost 88.

The prescribed burn units are located 2 1/2 miles southwest of Cascade Estates Subdivision and 2 1/2 miles northeast of the Two Rivers Subdivision.

If conditions are favorable, Crescent Ranger District firefighters plan to ignite the 51 acres on Wednesday. Firefighters plan to begin ignitions around 11 a.m. Ignitions are anticipated to occur on Wednesday and may continue on Thursday.

Due to the wind direction, smoke is not likely to impact Highway 58 during burn operations; however, smoke could drift across Highway 97, but is anticipated to rise over the roadway. Signs will be in place. Smoke could settle over both highways during cooler night time temperatures.

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. Once firefighters ignite prescribed burns, they monitor and patrol the units until they declare the burn out.

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 us on Twitter @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts.