Forest Service to light 3.5-acre fire in Deschutes National Forest for practice
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — U.S. Forest Service firefighters will light a 3.5-acre fire in the Deschutes National Forest at noon on Tuesday as part of a training exercise for the upcoming wildfire season.
Firefighters plan to set the fire one mile west of Bend to the north of Tumalo Creek near Forest Service Road 4606. Drivers are asked to be cautious of the firefighters and firefighting equipment in the area.
The USFS said that firefighters will extinguish the fire by Tuesday evening. Firefighters will also perform daily patrols in the area to monitor the burn area until the fire is deemed out.
“The objective of the two-week [Prescribed Fire Training Exchange] program in Central Oregon is to facilitate peer-to-peer, experiential learning for prescribed fire professionals and others interested in advancing their understanding of ecological burning to restore fire-dependent ecosystems,” the USFS said.
The U.S. Forest Service lists Tuesday’s fire danger level as “low” in the Deschutes National Forest.