If conditions are favorable on Thursday, the Deschutes National Forest plans to conduct prescribed burning operations on the Bend-Fort Rock and Sisters Ranger Districts.
Firefighters on the Sisters Ranger District plan to conduct up to 42 acres of ignitions on the SAFR 9 and 78 Prescribed Burn units located one and a half miles south of Sisters on the east side of Forest Service Road (FSR) 16 (Three Creek Lake Road) and south side of FSR 4606 near the junction of the two roads. These prescribed burn units are strategically located in places that could be used to stop a potential wildfire in the future.
Ignitions are planned for 10 a.m. Smoke will be visible from FSR 16, Sisters, Highway 20 and the surrounding area. Residents in Sisters and the surrounding area are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts. Smoke impacts are most likely overnight and in the early morning hours. No road or trail closures are anticipated
The Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District plans to continue prescribed burning operations on the Flank 5 Prescribed Burn 15 miles southeast of Bend on the west side of Forest Service Road (FSR) 18 just north of FSR 18 and FSR 25 junction and Camp II OHV Staging Area. Firefighters are planning on up to 550 acres of ignitions.
Ignitions are planned around 10 a.m. and will be visible from Highway 2o and portions of Bend. Trail closures are in place for the Opine OHV Trails System for Trail #020, #021, #025 and #028. Closures will remain in place for multiple days while mop-up and patrol operations continue after the prescribed burn is complete. Firefighters will reopen trails once conditions have been assessed and are determined safe for the public.
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. While prescribed fire managers take significant preventive measures, it’s likely that communities may experience some smoke during or immediately after a prescribed burn.
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 centraloregonfire.org/protect-
your-health for more smoke preparedness resources.
For more information on prescribed burning in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org and for information specific to the Deschutes National Forest visit fs.usda.gov/deschutes. Follow us on X @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts.
