If conditions are favorable on Friday, May 16, the Deschutes National Forest plans to conduct prescribed burn operations on the Bend-Fort Rock and Sisters Ranger Districts.
Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District firefighters plan to conduct up to 236 acres of ignitions on the Thor Units 11 and 12 Prescribed Burn located approximately four miles northeast of La Pine directly along the north and south sides of Paulina Lake Road, one mile west of Ogden Group Camp.
Ignitions are slated to begin around 10 a.m. A pilot car and flaggers will be in place along Paulina Lake Road during ignitions. No road or trail closures are anticipated. Smoke will be visible from La Pine, Sunriver, Highway 97, and the surrounding area. Residents in La Pine and Newberry Estates are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts. Smoke impacts are most likely overnight and in the early morning hours. Smoke impacts are also possible across Highway 97 during ignitions and overnight and in the early morning hours.
Sisters Ranger District firefighters plan to conduct up to 79 acres of ignitions on the Highway 20 Unit 63 Prescribed Burn located roughly half a mile east of Highway 20, south of Indian Ford Creek near the Sisters Tie Trail. Ignitions are slated to begin around 10 a.m. Smoke will be visible from Sisters, Highway 20, and the surrounding area. Residents in Sisters, along Indian Ford Creek, 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. Smoke impacts are also possible across Highway 20 and Indian Ford Road during ignitions and overnight and in the early morning hours.
No trail or road closures are anticipated. A small section of the Sisters Tie Trail runs through the burn unit, signage will be posted clearly marking an alternative route. The public is encouraged to avoid the Sisters Tie Trail while prescribed burning operations are occurring.
Firefighters implement understory prescribed burning to reduce wildfire risk to communities. Prescribed burning reintroduces and maintains fire within our fire-dependent ecosystem by removing concentrations of vegetation and restoring forest health while increasing public and firefighter safety.
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 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 Deschutes National Forest visit fs.usda.gov/r06/deschutes. Follow us on X/Twitter @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts.