PRINEVILLE, OREGON -As the fall season brings cooler temperatures and milder weather conditions, fire managers from the Ochoco National Forest are planning to accomplish a total of 8,000 acres of controlled burns over the next six weeks, weather permitting.
The controlled burn projects are located on the Lookout Mountain and Paulina Ranger Districts in the Maury Mountains, Rocky Butte, Deep Creek and the Petersen Point areas.
“We keep a list of projects to choose from and burn in the project area that best fits the burn prescription on any given day,” said Fire Management Officer Kevin Donham.
One of the planned controlled burns will occur in the Mill Creek area. The burn is approximately 1,500 acres in size and will be completed in 100-200 acre blocks each day, taking several weeks to complete. Nearby residents can expect smoke to impact forest roads, especially in the late evening and early morning hours when the cool air causes the smoke to settle. If the smoke gets too heavy and doesn’t clear out during the day, burning will stop until conditions improve.
Hunters and other forest visitors are reminded to either avoid or to be very careful when traveling through recently burned forest areas, as there is danger of being hit by fire-weakened timber or of being burned by accidentally stepping into a stump hole. Hunters can obtain more specific information on the location of planned controlled burn areas on the Ochoco National Forest by visiting the hunter’s booth at Ray’s on the east side of Prineville from Wednesday, September 30 through Friday, October 2, 2009 from 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Controlled burning is a tool that fire managers use for a variety of objectives. Burn objectives for the Ochoco National Forest include maintaining forest health by reducing the accumulation of hazardous fuels, reducing the encroachment of western juniper and white fir into ponderosa pine ecosystems and improving wildlife habitat by increasing native grasses, forbs and shrubs.
To view maps of all fuels treatments projects on public lands in Central Oregon (Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests and Prineville Bureau of Land Management) for the fall 2009 season, visit our website at www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon The maps provide a general idea of where projects will be completed. Due to changes in weather and conditions, projects are subject to change on short notice.
Completing controlled burn projects near private property, as in the Mill Creek burn, reduces the risk of high-intensity wildfires. Being proactive in reducing fuels now helps to reduce the intensity of future wildifres, increasing the firefighters’ ability to safely protect homes. Homeowners can do their part by clearing forest fuels and moving wood piles away from homes and structures. Visit the www.firefire.org website for additional information and tips for creating defensible space. For additional information, contact Jeff Bell at (541) 416-6417.
