Spring Prescribed Fire Season starting in South Central Oregon

LAKEVIEW, Ore. – Now that spring is officially here, fire managers on the Fremont-Winema National Forest, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lakeview District and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex are looking for opportunities to apply prescribed fire to the landscape.

Prescribed fires are a proactive tool used to achieve a number of purposes, including the reduction of hazardous fuels – which includes grasses, small shrubs and trees. Reducing these fuels helps to reduce the threat of high-intensity, severe wildfires, improve forest heath and wildlife habitat and recycle nutrients into the soil.

As conditions allow, including warmer temperatures, reduced snow pack, adequate humidity and favorable winds for smoke management, firefighters will start applying fire to the landscape.

Area residents and visitors may notice smoke or fire on public lands in various areas during the next few months. Applying prescribed fires is a part of our continued commitment to protect communities and natural resources from wildfires.

“The snow and wet weather over the past couple months has been welcome, but now that things are warming up and drying out again we are hoping to resume active work to reduce the hazardous fuels which can contribute to larger wildfires during the summer fire season,” said Interagency Fire Management Officer Barry Shullanberger.  “We’re still hoping for spring rains and for the snowpack we do have to hold up, but we are also looking forward to getting back out on the ground ahead of the summer fire season.”

Prescribed fire only occurs on days when the Oregon Department of Forestry Smoke Management Office indicates there are suitable weather conditions for smoke dispersal.  Following that approval, if overall fuel and weather conditions are favorable, firefighters ignite a test fire before moving forward with the prescribed fire.  If the test fire indicates conditions are not suitable, the prescribed fire will be postponed until conditions improve.  Burning operations are monitored and patrolled frequently, by fire professionals, to ensure public safety.

Prescribed fire announcements will be posted at local ranger stations and federal offices prior to ignition. The U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Fish and Wildlife Service are committed to a safe and successful prescribed fire season for the public and employees.

Areas planned for treatment during the Spring 2018 Prescribed Fire Season include:

FREMONT-WINEMA NATIONAL FOREST

Bly Ranger District:                                                             Information: 541-353-2427

Name:	Size (Acres):	Location from Bly, OR:
Juniper Mountain	2,000	20 miles southeast, near Strawberry Reservoir
West Spodue	1,000	15 Miles North of Beatty, Visible from Hwy 140
Long	1,000	15 miles east, near Coleman Rim
Pilot	500	15 Miles east, near Deming Creek
Bly Ridge	750	6 miles west & visible from Hwy 140

Chemult Ranger District:                                                    Information: 541-365-7001

Name:	Size (Acres):	Location from Chemult, OR:
Chemult WUI	1,000	Perimeter around Chemult, OR
Jack	350	12 Miles East off of FS Rd 88
Lomi	181	14 Miles southeast, along Silver Lake Highway or Bear Lake Cutoff

Chiloquin Ranger District:                                                 Information: 541-783-4001

Name:	Size (Acres):	Location from Chiloquin, OR:
Ninemile	1,200	5 miles east. Visible from Hwy 97 & the Sprague River Road

Klamath Ranger District:                                                                 Information: 541-885-3410

Name:	Size (Acres):	Location from Klamath Falls, OR:
Raccoon	235	23 miles NW of Klamath Falls along Hwy 140 near the Odessa area.
Tomahawk	342	29 miles NW of Klamath Falls along Hwy 140 near the base of Seldom Hill.

Lakeview Ranger District:                                                    Information: 541-947-3334

Name:	Size (Acres):	Location from Lakeview, OR:
Burnt Willow	500	6 miles east of Lakeview
West Drews	1,000	6 miles west of Drews Reservoir

Winter Rim Zone:                                                                            Information: 541-943-3114

Name:	Size (Acres):	Location:
Coyote	500	25 miles southwest of Silver Lake, west of Sycan Marsh
Brattain Ridge	1,600	17 miles south of Silver Lake, north of Sycan Marsh
Deuce	1,300	14 miles southwest of Paisley near Coffee Pot Flat.

BLM - LAKEVIEW DISTRICT

Lakeview Resource Area:                                                    Information: 541-947-2177

Name:	Size (Acres):	Location from Lakeview, OR:
South Warner	750	20 miles east (visible from Hwy 140 near Adel, OR)

Klamath Falls Resource Area:                                             Information: 541-883-6916

Name:	Size (Acres):	Location from Klamath Falls, OR:
Hand piles	138	10 miles south (in-between Keno & Warden, OR)

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE

Sheldon/Hart National Wildlife Refuges:                                          Information: 541-947-3315

Name:	Size (Acres):	Location from Plush, OR
Indian Spring Meadow	192	Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge 8-10 miles east of Plush
Hot Springs Campground	30	Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge 8-10 miles east of Plush

Information on prescribed fire operations in the area can also be found at www.scofmp.org/lifc.shtml, on the SCOFMP Facebook page at www.facebook.com/scofmpfireinfo and on Twitter @scofmpfireinfo.

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