Deschutes National Forest firefighters are continuing pile burning operations across the Deschutes National Forest.
The Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District will conduct pile burning operations 10 miles northwest of Bend & ~5 miles north of Tumalo Falls. Ignitions are planned on up to 246 acres. Ignitions may continue in this area throughout the week if conditions are favorable.
Residents along Skyliners Road & in Bend are encouraged to keep doors & windows closed to minimize smoke impacts. Smoke impacts are most likely overnight & in the early morning.
The Crescent Ranger District is planning to conduct up to 229 acres of pile burning including 8 miles southeast of La Pine with 29 acres directly adjacent to the Wickiup Estates subdivision and other units within a quarter mile to the northwest, east and south. 17 acres are planned 12 miles south of Crescent and just south of the Highway 97 and 58 junction. One acre is planned on the north side of Highway 58 in the Odell Lake area. Smoke may be visible from Highways 58 and 97 and Wickiup Reservoir.
Residents in Wickiup Estates and La Pine are encouraged to keep doors & windows closed to minimize smoke impacts. Smoke impacts are most likely overnight & in the early morning.
Firefighters implement pile burning to reduce vegetation generated from active forest management such as timber sales and pre-commercial thinning treatments. The piles are concentrations of leftover materials associated with vegetation management activities being done to help maintain and restore forest and ecosystem health while reducing hazardous fuels loading.
Piles may smolder, burn, and produce smoke for several days after ignition. Once ignited, firefighters monitor piles until they declare the piles out. Please do not report ignitions. While smoke may linger in the area, removing these large accumulations of woody debris during the winter months minimizes fire danger.
Pile burning operations are carefully planned and implemented under specific conditions. Firefighters work with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Oregon Department of Forestry smoke forecasters to identify conditions that will minimize smoke impacts on people and communities. While prescribed burn officials take significant preventive measures, it’s likely that communities may experience some smoke during or immediately after ignitions. Most smoke impacts occur during the night and early morning hours.
For more information on pile burning and smoke preparedness in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org/ and for information specific to the Deschutes National Forest visit fs.usda.gov/deschutes. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive prescribed burn text alerts. Follow along on X @CentralORFire.
