Central Oregon – Given favorable weather conditions, Deschutes National Forest fuel specialists on the Crescent Ranger District plan to conduct two prescribed burns just south of Crescent this week.
Fuels specialists plan to ignite a unit of 221 acres located approximately 6 miles southwest of Crescent on Tuesday and Wednesday at 11 a.m. An additional unit of 155 acres, similarly located, will be ignited on Wednesday at 11 a.m. The prescribed burn units are located east of Forest Road 9768.
Burning in both of these units is designed to introduce fire into a fire-adapted ponderosa pine ecosystem and to remove fuels from a thinning project to reduce the possibility of high intensity crown fires in the area.
In addition the prescribed fire is expected to help support old-growth juniper woodlands and enhance riparian vegetation. Both projects are being done as a part of the Greater La Pine Basin Cohesive Strategy Project through special funding from the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Initiative.
Due to the location of these units, the public could see smoke and drivers may experience smoke impacts on nearby highways and Forest roads. While there are no road closures anticipated with this burn, smoke will be visible at the junction of State Highways 97 and 58. State Highway 97 will be monitored for any impacts and warning signs will be in place where driving precautions might be necessary. If smoke drifts onto roads, motorists should slow down, turn on headlights, and proceed with caution.
Residences and businesses near these burn areas are advised to keep their windows and doors closed during the night hours to minimize any potential smoke impacts.
Keep up with prescribed burns in Central Oregon by visiting this live map: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/webmaps/deschutes/cofms-rxfire/
