May 27, 2015
Before wildfire season gets under full swing this year in Oregon, both public and private land managers are busy conducting hazardous fuels treatment reduction projects around the State. This week, the Forest Service is conducting prescribed burning projects in Deschutes County as noted below.
Fuels Specialists to Ignite Prescribed Burn Adjacent to Black Butte Ranch
SISTERS – Given favorable weather conditions, Deschutes National Forest fuel specialists on the Sisters Ranger District plan to conduct a prescribed burn today. The 90 area to be treated is adjacent to Black Butte Ranch and ¼ mile south of Highway 20 in the Glaze Meadow area.
The prescribed fire is part of the Glaze Meadow Restoration Project, a project which was accomplished through close collaboration between the Forest Service, public, and representatives from both the environmental and timber communities. Black Butte Ranch will likely be impacted by smoke as a result of this project.
Due to the location of these units, the public could see smoke and drivers may experience smoke impacts on Highway 20, throughout Black Butte Ranch and along Forest Road 300. For all prescribed fires, signs will be posted on significant nearby Forest roads and state highways that could be impacted. No road closures are anticipated with these projects.
Fuels specialists will follow policies outlined in the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan, which governs prescribed fires, and attempts to minimize impacts to visibility and public health. For more information, visit the Ochoco/Deschutes website at www.fs.usda.gov/centraloregon and follow us on twitter @CentralORFire.
Before wildfire season gets under full swing this year in Oregon, both public and private land managers are busy conducting hazardous fuels treatment reduction projects around the State. This week, the Forest Service is conducting prescribed burning projects in Deschutes County as noted below.
Fuels Specialists to Ignite Prescribed Burn Adjacent to Black Butte Ranch
SISTERS – Given favorable weather conditions, Deschutes National Forest fuel specialists on the Sisters Ranger District plan to conduct a prescribed burn today. The 90 area to be treated is adjacent to Black Butte Ranch and ¼ mile south of Highway 20 in the Glaze Meadow area.
The prescribed fire is part of the Glaze Meadow Restoration Project, a project which was accomplished through close collaboration between the Forest Service, public, and representatives from both the environmental and timber communities. Black Butte Ranch will likely be impacted by smoke as a result of this project.
Due to the location of these units, the public could see smoke and drivers may experience smoke impacts on Highway 20, throughout Black Butte Ranch and along Forest Road 300. For all prescribed fires, signs will be posted on significant nearby Forest roads and state highways that could be impacted. No road closures are anticipated with these projects.
Fuels specialists will follow policies outlined in the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan, which governs prescribed fires, and attempts to minimize impacts to visibility and public health. For more information, visit the Ochoco/Deschutes website at www.fs.usda.gov/centraloregon and follow us on twitter @CentralORFire.
Prescribed Burn Planned in the West Bend Project Area
for Thursday
BEND – Specific wind and weather conditions will
allow fuels specialists to burn in the West Bend Project area near Phil’s
Trailhead off of Skyliner Road this Thursday.
If conditions remain favorable, the 70 acre prescribed burn
will take place on May 28 with ignitions beginning at 10:00am.
Approximately one mile of the KGB trail between Forest Road 4604 and the
Marvin’s Garden Trail will be closed tomorrow and Thursday to prepare for and
complete the burn.
Burning will occur approximately one mile south from the
trailhead parking area and operations should be completed by 4 p.m. the same
day. The winds forecasted for the burn area are expected to push smoke up and
over Bend, which will limit impacts to the community. However smoke will be
highly visible from the Bend and the surrounding areas.
Hazards, including fire
weakened trees and areas of hot ash, will exist in the burn area for 1-2 weeks
or more after burn implementation. It is advised that recreationists
remain on the trails and roads, and that dogs remain on leash when travelling
around the burn area. If smoke drifts on to roads, motorists should slow down,
turn on headlights, and proceed with care. The smoke will dissipate after
ignitions have been completed, but smoke could be visible in the burn area for
an additional 2-3 days. Fuels specialists will be monitoring the burn area
through the weekend and into next week.
Fuels specialists will follow policies outlined in the
Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan, which governs controlled
burns, and attempts to minimize impacts to visibility and public health.
The West Bend Vegetation
Project is the first project to be implemented through a partnership with the
Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project (DCFP), an organization bringing a
diverse group of stakeholders together with the Forest Service to design and
plan treatments options for highly valued and historically controversial areas.
DCFP was created through the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR)
Program in 2010 which awarded the Deschutes National Forest with a 10-year,
$10.1 million grant to restore 145,000 acres of forest in Central Oregon.
In the summer of 2013 the restoration area was approved for an expansion,
bringing the total to approximately 257,000 acres and stretching from Black
Butte and Bend to Sunriver and Mt. Bachelor.
For more information, visit http://centralorfireinfo.blogspot.com/
and follow us on twitter @CentralORFire.