The Deschutes National Forest plans to conduct prescribed burning operations on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District starting Monday and will continue ignitions through the week if conditions favorable.
Firefighters plan to conduct prescribed burning operations on the Flank 5 and 4 Prescribed Burns 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 on Monday on the Flank 5 Prescribed Burn. If conditions remain favorable, firefighters will continue ignitions on Flank 4 through Friday for up to 1,270 acres.
Ignitions are planned around 9 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.
