It's fall: Here comes the burning season

As Sisters Country slides into fall, the Sisters Ranger District is set to launch its annual fall burning campaign. The program consists of conducting numerous controlled underburns and pile burns aimed at reducing hazardous fuels (mostly brush and woody debris) that can contribute to high-intensity wildland fires. The burning program also aims at restoration of natural fire regimes to fire-dependent forests under controlled conditions.

Burning is expected to begin as soon as weather conditions become favorable.

Controlled underburns are part of a series of strategic treatments intended to restore fire's natural role in forested ecotypes while at the same time minimizing the potential of wildland fires spreading from national forest lands to residential areas. Pile burning as part of hazardous fuel reduction treatments consist of small tree thinning, hand-piling, and burning of residual debris. These treatments are implemented throughout the year by the U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Department of Corrections, and various private contractors.

Foresters plan approximately 1,300 acres of underburning and 3,600 acres of pile burning. Underburning will occur in units associated with the Sisters Area Fuels Reduction (SAFR), Highway 20, Metolius Basin, and project areas.

Prescribed underburning is planned for:

• 150 acres off Forest Road 1012 and Forest Road 500.

• 340 acres off Forest Road 14, SW of Metolius Meadows Black Butte Ranch.

• 446 acres off Forest Road 1425.

• 370 acres between Hwy. 242 and Forest Road 300.

Pile burning will be conducted on:

• 2,700 acres off Forest Road 16.

• 537 acres off Hwy. 242 around Crossroads.

• 341 acres between Forest Roads 1008 and 300.

• 32 acres scattered through the Metolius Basin.

A site map showing further location details will be available at the Sisters Ranger District.

Smoke from burning may impact surrounding communities and Highways 20, 242, Forest Road 16 and Forest Road 14 to Camp Sherman. Fire specialists decide when to burn based on narrow weather parameters, such as when winds will disperse smoke out and away from populated areas, but not so windy as to make burning conditions unsafe. Despite fire specialists' best efforts, smoke often settles in with cooler air in low areas in the evening hours, and may not disperse as readily as predicted. The Forest Service also adheres to the guidelines of the Oregon Department of Forestry's Smoke Management Plan when conducting underburns.

In case conditions become smoky in Sisters Country, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality recommends the following precautions:

• Close doors and window on structures.

• Stay indoors if possible.

• Avoid strenuous outdoor activities.

• Avoid areas near your home with the highest smoke concentrations.

• Follow breathing management plans if you have asthma or respiratory issues. Contact your healthcare provider if your condition worsens.

Fire specialists will give nearby residents advanced notice of burning operations if requested. Contact Sisters Ranger District Fuels Technician Trevor Miller at 541-549-7638 for more information.