Firefighters on all three ranger districts on the Deschutes National Forest are planning prescribed burning ignitions Friday if conditions are favorable.
Firefighters on the Sisters Ranger District are planning to conduct ignitions on up to 100 acres on Hwy 20 South Unit 79 Prescribed Burn located just west of Highway 20 along the north side of Cold Springs Cutoff Road (Forest Service Road 1012). This prescribed burn will connect with prior burn units to create a corridor along Highway 20 where firefighters can safely and effectively stop potential future wildfires.
Ignitions are planned for 10 a.m. While no road or trail closures are anticipated, Cold Springs Cutoff Road is adjacent to a portion of the prescribed burn. People driving in the area should slow down and use caution as firefighting personnel will be working along the roadway and there will be smoke impacts. Smoke may impact Highway 20. Pilot car operations may be used if necessary for roadway safety.
Residents in Black Butte Ranch, Tollgate subdivision, Sisters and 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.
The Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District plans to conduct up to 363 acres of ignitions on the Yoda 3/4/5 Prescribed Burn units located 11 miles south of Bend and four miles east of Lava Butte. This prescribed burn is part of the Cabin Butte Vegetation Management Project.
Ignitions are planned for 11 a.m. Residents in Bend and Sunriver are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts. Smoke impacts are most likely overnight and in the early morning hours. There is a potential for nighttime smoke impacts to Highway 97.
Firefighters on the Crescent Ranger District plan to conduct up to 80 acres of ignitions on the Sting 17 and 18 Prescribed Burn units located four miles west of the Highway 58 and Highway 97 junction.
Ignitions are planned for 11 a.m. Trail closures are in place for OHV Trails #13 and #39. 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.
Residents in the Two Rivers subdivision are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts. Smoke impacts are most likely overnight and in the early morning hours.
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.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
