BEND, OR -- Bend Parks and Recreation will conduct its first prescribed burn in a couple decades, later this month. "We’ll be conducting that 48-acre prescribed burn in Shevlin Park," says Jeff Amaral, the district's Natural Resources Manager. "The goals are to improve forest health, increase resistance to disturbance, and increase the chance of a severe wildfire."

Amaral says weather will determine exactly when they'll light the project. It'll either be May 15, 25 or 30. "We’re partnering with the Deschutes National Forest, and they have strict requirements on smoke management. So, we’ll be looking at specific weather requirements to proceed with the burn. They’ll look at temperature and humidity and wind direction to help minimize the smoke impact."

The burn area is south of Aspen Meadow and the parking lot and extends to near the Tumalo Creek Trail on the east, and the old railroad grade on the west. The southern boundary is near the covered bridge.

Bend Parks and Rec will host a community information session this Tuesday evening. Amaral tells KBND News, "Bend Parks hasn’t conducted a prescribed fire for a couple decades and we wanted to reintroduce fire as a management tool. We want to make sure the public had an opportunity to ask questions and get their concerns answered during an informational session." That community meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Shevlin Park’s Aspen Hall. Click HERE for more information.