Ochoco and Deschutes National Forests, and Prineville District, Bureau of Land Management Office of Communications
Working as One to Serve Central Oregon www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon For immediate release: October 12, 2007 Contact: Virginia Gibbons, Office of Communications, 541/416-6647
Prescribed Burn Projects Scheduled on Deschutes National Forest
CENTRAL OREGON—Several fall prescribed burn projects are scheduled to occur next week on the Deschutes National Forest. The burns are being conducted in an effort to reduce hazardous fuels in areas where potential wildfires could pose a threat to homes. All burning projects are contingent upon favorable weather conditions and may be postponed or cancelled. SE Bend Area • Hazy Burn – 186 acres of under burning (burning that targets the consumption of accumulated ground fuels while minimizing impacts to trees), approximately 7 miles SE of Bend and 1 mile S of Kelsey Butte along Forest Road 1810. • Fuzzy #12 – 180 acres of hand piles, approximately 1.5 miles east of Kelsey Butte Crescent/La Pine • 1200 acres of slash pile burning in the Crescent area. Two of the burn projects are visible to motorists from Highway 97. One of project areas is located 13 miles S of Crescent between mileposts 199 & 200; the second project is located six miles S of Crescent between mileposts 193 & 194. • 100 acres of slash pile burning 15 miles SW of La Pine near Eagle Rock and adjacent to Wickiup Acres subdivision. The burns are not expected to create hazardous smoke conditions; however, motorists should slow down, have lights turned on and proceed with caution when passing through burn project areas. Signs will be posted along Highway 97 and engines will patrol the burned areas into the evening hours. Smoke may linger in the early morning hours; residents are advised to keep doors and windows of structures close during these times. All controlled burns are weather-dependent and completed in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan. For more information on the Hazy Burn, contact John Erwert at (541) 383-4737; for more information on the Crescent/La Pine burns, contact Kevin Carlson at (541) 480-1360. -End-