Sisters Country set for spring burning

Beginning as soon as this week, fuels specialists on the Sisters Ranger District will begin prescribed burning throughout the district.

Depending upon weather conditions and resources, fuels specialists hope to ignite 1,200 acres of prescribed burns this spring. Burn units are located in four separate project areas called: Highway 20, Sisters Area Fuels Reduction (SAFR), McCache (Highway 242) and Metolius Basin projects.

More detailed information, through future press releases, will be provided to the public and media as weather conditions make specific locations available for burning.

All prescribed burn units will be scheduled to take advantage of spring weather and forest fuel conditions. Forest Service personnel note that use of prescribed fire in Central Oregon's fire-adapted ecosystems restores forests to healthier conditions, reduces and removes fuel that contributes to high-intensity wildfires and protects communities.

For all prescribed burns, fuels specialists follow policies outlined in the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan, which governs prescribed fires, and attempt 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 interactive Deschutes National Forest website at https://www.fs.fed.us/r6/webmaps/deschutes/cofms-rxfire/ and follow on Twitter @CentralORFire.

To be included in the Sisters Ranger District's prescribed fire contact list call Assistant Fire Management Officer Jinny Reed at 541-480-7243.