Fire managers with the Ochoco National Forest plan to conduct prescribed burning operations in the HEJ 9 burn unit on the Paulina Ranger District.
The HEJ 9 unit encompasses approximately 418 acres on the northwest side of Big Summit Prairie, east of Forest Service Road 22, west of FSR 22-300, and south of FSR 22-250. Ignitions are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and are expected to take most of the day to complete. If conditions remain favorable, a second day of burning may occur to finish the unit.
Smoke may be visible from Big Summit Prairie, Prineville, Redmond, and Madras, and travelers on Forest Service Roads 22 and 42 may experience intermittent smoke impacts. Smoke could settle into low-lying areas of Big Summit Prairie overnight. Fire managers will post signs along affected roads.
Firefighters from the Ochoco National Forest will manage this prescribed fire. Smoke may be visible for several days to weeks as logs and stumps continue to burn out, and Forest Service resources will patrol the area daily until the fire is declared out.
What does this mean for you?
- During prescribed burns, smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight and in the early morning hours.
- All residents are encouraged to close doors and windows at night to avoid smoke impacts.
- If available, use a portable air cleaner. Air cleaners work best running with doors and windows closed. You can also create a DIY air cleaner.
- If you have a central air system, use it to filter air. Use high-efficiency filters if possible.
- When driving in smoky areas, drivers should slow down, turn on headlights and turn air to recirculating.
- If you have heart or lung disease, asthma, or other chronic conditions, pay attention to how you feel and if symptoms of heart or lung disease worsen, consider contacting your health care professional.
- Go to centraloregonfire.org to learn more about smoke safety and prescribed burning in Central Oregon and visit When Smoke is in the Air for more smoke preparedness resources.
For more information on prescribed burning in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org/ and for information specific to the Ochoco National Forest visit fs.usda.gov/r06/ochoco. Follow us on X/Twitter @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts.