Prescribed burn planned for Chiloquin area has begun

A prescribed fire burns near Chiloquin, Oregon. May 4, 2021 (Photo by, Evan Wright)

A prescribed fire burns near Chiloquin, Oregon. May 4, 2021 (Photo by, Evan Wright)

The following is a press release from South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership.

CHILOQUIN, Ore. – The Chiloquin Ranger District of the Fremont-Winema National Forest, in partnership with the agencies of the South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership, has started ignitions today on the North 2 Prescribed Burn. Test firing began shortly after 12 noon and went well.

The goal is to treat up to 4,000 acres over the course of three to five days, using a helicopter to conduct aerial ignitions, conditions permitting.

The North 2 Prescribed Burn area is located 7 miles northeast of Chiloquin.  It is also near the Two Four Two Fire area that burned last fall due to wildfire.

Area residents and visitors can expect increased aircraft in the area, fire equipment on area roads, and possible smoke impacts affecting visibility.  Forest Road 4502 is in the North 2 project area and will be signed.  For public and firefighter safety, visitors must avoid the area.  If anyone is inside the closed area, all aviation resources will be forced to land.

Smoke from each prescribed burn is expected to be in the area for five to seven days.  Those who are sensitive to smoke in the Chiloquin area are encouraged to take precautionary measures.

Prescribed burns are only conducted as weather conditions and resources allow, including factors like temperature, humidity and wind speed, and ensuring there are enough firefighting resources available to conduct the burn safely.

The North 2 project is part of the Chiloquin Community Forest and Fire Project, which is funded in part through the USDA Joint Chief’s program.  The purpose of the project is to treat lands at a landscape scale across boundaries to create a forest resilient to natural and human-caused disturbance, including fire.  This includes defensible space and fuel reduction treatments.

Updates on the North 2 Prescribed Burn will be posted on the Fremont Winema Facebook page as well as on the SCOFMP Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SCOFMPFIREINFO.  Information boards are in place in the Chiloquin area and will be updated as information is available.