Sisters entering the burning season

Beginning as early as this week, fuels specialists on the Sisters Ranger District intend to ignite 500 to 1,000 acres of prescribed burns.

Individual burn units are scattered across four separate project areas called Highway 20, Sisters Area Fuels Reduction (SAFR), McCache (Hwy 242) and Metolius Basin projects. All prescribed burn units will be scheduled to take advantage of spring weather and forest fuel conditions.

This is a continuation of treatments utilizing prescribed fire in a historic fire-adapted ecosystem to reduce and remove hazardous fuels that contribute to high-intensity fire events which may occur during the normal fire season. The areas on the map are project units that are near or adjacent to Sisters communities.

No road closures are anticipated with any of the projects, although drivers may expect traffic control on Highway 20 and Highway 242 during periods of time where dense smoke may limit visibility. Smoke from the Sisters Area Fuel Reduction (SAFR) may impact Sage Meadow, Crossroads, Tollgate, Cascade Meadow Ranch and Camp Sherman communities.

Residences and businesses in the areas of all of these prescribed burns are advised to keep their windows and doors closed during the night hours to avoid any potential smoke impacts. If smoke drifts onto local roads, motorists should slow down, turn on headlights, and proceed with care.

Fuels specialists will follow policies outlined in the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan, which governs prescribed fires, and attempts to minimize impacts to visibility and public health. Once ignited, units are monitored and patrolled until they are declared out.

For more information, visit the Deschutes National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/deschutes and follow on Twitter @CentralORFire. For further questions or if you have interest in being included on the prescribed fire contact list call Assistant Fire Management Officer Jinny Reed at 541-480-7243.