Jackson #3 prescribed burn on Ochoco NF planned for ignition
Preparations underway for 800 acre project north of Little Summit Prairie
PRINEVILLE, Ore.— Fire managers on the Ochoco National Forest are planning ignition of the Jackson #3 prescribed burn tomorrow morning, October 3, 2018. The use of prescribed fire in this area is intended to improve big game habitat and to introduce fire back into the fire-adapted ecosystem, reducing hazardous fuels and future risk of severe wildfire.
The burn unit covers 800 acres just north of Little Summit Prairie and south of Cottonwood Pit, near Forest Service roads 4270 and 4274 (see attached map). Preparation work consisting of construction of containment line, tree limbing, and brush removal has occurred throughout the summer. Firefighters from the Ochoco National Forest and Prineville BLM will be cooperatively working together to accomplish this burn.
Fire managers have been scouting several potential prescribed burn areas in anticipation of fall weather favorable to controlled burning. The Jackson #3 project area was selected in part in order to minimize impacts to deer hunters, as no hunter camps were located in the vicinity. Rain is expected on the forest by the end of the week with the possibility of snow in higher elevations next week. The timing of ignitions is planned to take advantage of this season-ending weather. Ignition operations are expected to last one to two days.
Smoke will be expected to linger in the burn area for several days, with nightly cold temperatures creating an inversion of smoke that will lift and clear the air as the mornings warm. Forest roads 4270, 4274 and other spur roads in the area could be impacted by smoke, please drive slow and with your lights on if you are in the area.
For current Central Oregon prescribed fire information visit www.centraloregonfire.org or follow us on Twitter at @CentralORfire.
For media inquiries, contact Stacy Lacey at (541) 410-5311 or [email protected].