Where there's smoke...

Smoldering burn piles in the Sisters area have drawn the attention of the Sisters/Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District.

"We are going to start citing people," said RFPD Chief Don Mouser. "They are burning trash and other stuff and they let (the fires) go all night and stink up the neighborhood."

Mouser said his department had received a number of complaints about the fires, especially from people with lung ailments such as asthma during periods of little wind and temperature inversion, which are common at this time of year.

"At night the smoke just lies in here, and these people can't get any sleep."

Mouser said burning permits expressly prohibit leaving fires unattended to

smolder. The permits state there shall be "no burning after dark," and require "at least one person to remain at burning site until fire is completely out."

If unattended fires are discovered, property owners will be cited and their burning permit revoked, Mouser said.