Prescribed fire planned south of Bend near Horse Butte
BEND – Given favorable conditions, fuels specialists plan to implement a prescribed fire east of Highway 97 and 1½ miles west of Horse Butte along the south side of Bend this Wednesday, May 21, 2014.
This 113-acre unit is located within the congressionally designated Deschutes Skyline Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration boundary which receives funding towards accelerated forest restoration. Project objectives include reducing hazardous fuels and creating defensible space within the wildland urban interface.
Ignitions are expected to last 1 day with patrols continuing as needed.
Residences and businesses on the south and southeast sides of Bend are advised to keep their windows and doors closed during the night hours to avoid any potential smoke impacts.
Due to the location of this project, smoke will be visible from much of the greater Bend area. Drivers may experience smoke impacts on nearby roads. If smoke drifts onto roads, motorists should slow down, turn on headlights, and proceed with care.
Fuels specialists will follow policies outlined in the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan, which governs prescribed fires, and attempts to minimize impacts to visibility and public health.
For more information, please visit the “Prescribed Fires” link on the Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests website, http://www.fs.usda.gov/centraloregon and follow us on Twitter @CentralORFire
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