BEND, OR -- Deschutes National Forest fuels specialists plan to ignite slash piles along Cascade Lakes Highway near Wanoga, Mt Bachelor and Elk Lake, this week.

Ignitions are scheduled to begin Wednesday and continue for the next several days. Smoke from the operations might be visible in Bend and could last into next week. Authorities ask that residents do not call 911 to report smoke from slash piles; they say fuels specialists monitor piles until they are declared out.

For more information, visit the Deschutes National Forest website or follow @CentralORFire on Twitter.