BEND, Ore. -- Fuels specialists with the Deschutes National Forest will be taking advantage of favorable weather conditions to continue their pile-burning program.

Normally, snow limits access to many of these project areas this time of year; however, low snow and relatively dry conditions this winter are allowing crews to continue working.

Burning will continue in areas around Sunriver, La Pine and Sisters over the next 3-4 weeks, as conditions permit.

All of the piles are leftover from thinning projects designed to reduce hazardous fuels and restore forest health. Burning is planned in the following project areas:

Sonny Project Area; Units 4, 18, 19: these piles are in highly visible areas adjacent to Sunriver. Unit 4 is near Sunriver Traffic Circle #7, while the two remaining areas are near South Century Drive south of Sunriver.

Abbott Pit/ODOT Project Area: this project area is adjacent to the junction of Highway 97 and South Century Drive.

Crossings Unit #26: these piles are located two miles northeast of Finley Butte and smoke will be visible to residents of La Pine.

Opine, Otis Project Areas: crews will continue working on these piles located on or near Pine Mountain east of Bend.

Dead Log Project Area: firefighters will burn piles in this area located southeast of La Pine and 35 miles southeast of Bend.

SAFR: crews will continue to work on the remaining 800 acres of piles in this area south of Sisters. Fuels specialists have been able to complete most of this 4,500 acre pile-burning project designed to reduce hazardous fuels in the wildland-urban interface.

Smoke from these projects is expected to be short term. While smoke may occasionally linger in residential areas overnight, there is a real benefit to removing this type of project debris. These projects are designed to remove hazardous fuels that can burn during summer wildfires; threatening lives and property, causing significant economic damage and creating longer-term smoke impacts to local communities.

No road closures are anticipated with any of these projects. Pile burning project areas will be signed to inform motorists of the burning activity. If smoke drifts on to roads, motorists should slow down, turn on headlights, and proceed with care. Piles can be expected to smolder and burn for several days after ignition. Some “creep” may occur when fire slowly moves between piles; however, the fire stays within the project boundary. Once ignited, units are patrolled and monitored by firefighters until they are declared out.

Fuels specialists with the Prineville BLM will also be taking advantage of favorable weather conditions to burn 250 acres of piles located near Darlene Way south of La Pine and east of Highway 97. Specialists are planning on beginning burning Thursday and the project is expected to take two days to complete. Piles may continue to smolder through the weekend and the area will be patrolled until they are declared out.

Smoke from these projects is expected to be short term; and, while smoke may occasionally linger in residential areas overnight, there is a real benefit to removing this type of thinning debris. Thinning and pile burning projects are designed to remove hazardous fuels that can burn during summer wildfires; threatening lives and property, causing significant economic damage and creating longer-term smoke impacts to local communities. No road closures are anticipated and the project area will be signed to inform motorists of the burning activity. If smoke drifts on to 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 controlled burns, and attempts to minimize impacts to visibility and public health. For more information, visit the Ochoco/Deschutes website at www.fs.usda.gov/centraloregon