The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

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Foresters put 85 acres to the torch on Friday, March 19, west of the Tollgate subdivision.

The intentional burning was designed to consume grasses, brush and small trees that could feed wildland fires.

The controlled burn is part of an effort to reduce flammable fuels this spring near Sisters subdivisions, including Crossroads, Cascade Meadow Ranch and Squawback Woods.

Fire managers ignited the Tollgate burn Friday, after National Weather Service forecasts showed light winds from the south would blow most smoke away from residential areas.

Local winds normally blow more from the west, according to Kirk Metzger, fuels specialist with Central Oregon Fire Management Services.

"This is one great opportunity we're really thankful for," Metzger said of the high temperatures and low fuel moisture. "We're expecting at least one more snowstorm to occur this year, after we complete this burn."

Fire managers often burn in anticipation of precipitation that will extinguish fires that have consumed most fuels. They also seek light winds that will carry smoke from residential areas, while not threatening containment lines.

The Tollgate burn was part of an ongoing spring program of controlled burns that the Forest Service will conduct when weather permits, all around the Sisters area (See map).

Burn areas are near Three Creek Road (Canal); the Tollgate/Crossroads area (Underline) and along Highway 20.

Highway signs will be in place when smoke threatens to affect visibility.

Why does the Forest Service have to burn?

According to fire education specialist Jinny Pitman, fire is a natural part of forest ecosystems in the Sisters area and helps keep forests thinned out and healthy.

Prescribed fire is the most efficient and ecologically sound method of reducing wildfire risk, Pitman said.

The Forest Service believes spring provides the best combination of winds, temperature and humidity (burning window) to allow safe burning.

For questions or comments regarding prescribed burning call 549-7700.