La Pine/Sisters, Ore – Conditions at this time look favorable for prescribed burning to continue Wednesday on the Bend-Fort Rock and Sisters Ranger Districts.
Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District firefighters plan to continue prescribed burn operations adjacent to Paulina Lake Road approximately six miles northeast of La Pine and approximately two miles east of the Newberry Estates subdivision. On Wednesday, ignitions are planned for up to 248 acres (Odin North 15) along Paulina Lake Road. Ignitions are slated to begin around 10 a.m. Smoke will be visible from La Pine, Highway 97, Paulina Lake Road and the surrounding area. Residents in the Newberry Estates subdivision are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts. Road and trail closures are not anticipated although the public is asked to use caution where fire traffic and firefighters are present. Paulina Lake Road may experience smoke impacts. Signage will be in place and drivers are asked to slow down and turn on headlights. If conditions are favorable, ignitions may continue on Thursday.
Sisters Ranger District firefighters plan to conduct prescribed burn ignitions four miles northwest of Sisters adjacent to the east side of Highway 20 near Zimmerman Pit (Hwy 20 North Unit 87) on up to 63 acres. The public is asked to avoid Zimmerman Pit and Forest Service Road 500 east of Highway 20. Smoke will be visible from Highway 20, Sisters and the surrounding area. Flames may be visible from Highway 20. Drivers are asked slow down and turn on headlights. Flaggers and signage will be used as needed. Residents in the area are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts.
Prescribed burning reintroduces and maintains fire within a fire-dependent ecosystem helping to stabilize and improve the resiliency of forest conditions while increasing public and firefighter safety. Once firefighters ignite prescribed burns, they patrol the units until they declare the burn out.
These prescribed burns are occurring within the Central Oregon Landscape, one of 21 focal landscapes identified within the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy. The implementation of these prescribed burns supports the Deschutes National Forest’s commitment to addressing the Wildfire Crisis Strategy which aims to reduce severity of wildfires, protect communities, and improve the health and resiliency of fire-dependent forests.
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.
- All residents are encouraged to close windows at night to avoid smoke impacts
- 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, ask your doctor about how to protect yourself from smoke
- Go to centraloregonfire.org to learn more about smoke safety and prescribed burning in Central Oregon
For more information on prescribed burning in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org/ and for information specific to the Deschutes National Forest visit www.fs.usda.gov/deschutes. Follow us on X/Twitter @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts.
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