Prescribed burning planned over the coming weeks on Ochoco NF

PRINEVILLE, Ore. – Fire managers on the Ochoco National Forest plan to ignite prescribed burn units about 15 miles east of Paulina, Ore. and in the Maury Mountains over the coming weeks as weather conditions allow.

The Upper Beaver Prescribed Burn project consists of multiple small burn units totaling 500 acres near Forest Service Road 58 and 5840, in the southeast corner of the Ochoco National Forest, about two miles west of Frazier Campground.

The project will target up to 200 acres of burning per day and could begin this week.

The West Maury Jackpot Burning project includes about 500 acres spread across multiple units approximately 12 miles southeast of Post, Ore. along Forest Road 16.

Crews completed 170 acres of jackpot burning in the Maury Mountains at the end of February before snow halted the project.

Jackpot burning is part of a hazardous fuels reduction program that addresses high concentrations of naturally-occurring or thinning-related downed woody debris.

The goals for both projects include improvement of wildlife habitat and range conditions, reducing the encroachment of western juniper, and removing hazardous fuels to reduce the future potential for high-intensity wildfire. 

Light smoke will be visible during ignition and periods of active burning. Smoke is expected to settle at night in the Paulina Valley.

Fuels specialists follow policies outlined in the Oregon Smoke Management Plan, which governs prescribed fires (including pile burning) and attempts to minimize impacts to visibility and public health.