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Prescribed Burning Planned Near Sisters and Southeast of Bend
Deschutes National Forest to conduct up to 592 acres of ignitions on Thursday
Mar. 19, 2026 at 7:11pm
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The Deschutes National Forest plans to conduct prescribed burning operations on the Bend-Fort Rock and Sisters Ranger Districts on Thursday if conditions are favorable. Firefighters on the Sisters Ranger District plan to ignite up to 42 acres, while the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District plans up to 550 acres of ignitions. Smoke will be visible from nearby roads and communities, and some trail closures will be in place.
Why it matters
Prescribed burns are a crucial tool for forest management, helping to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires by removing excess vegetation and debris. However, the smoke generated can impact nearby residents, so coordination with smoke specialists and public communication are important.
The details
The prescribed burn units are strategically located in places that could be used to stop a potential wildfire in the future. Ignitions are planned for around 10 a.m. on Thursday. On the Sisters Ranger District, the burn units are located one and a half miles south of Sisters on the east side of Forest Service Road (FSR) 16 and south side of FSR 4606. On the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District, the Flank 5 Prescribed Burn is located 15 miles southeast of Bend on the west side of FSR 18 just north of the FSR 18 and FSR 25 junction. Trail closures will be in place for the Opine OHV Trails System.
- Ignitions are planned for around 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 20, 2026.
- Smoke will be visible from nearby roads and communities, including Sisters, Highway 20, and portions of Bend.
- Trail closures for the Opine OHV Trails System will remain in place for multiple days after the prescribed burn is complete.
The players
Deschutes National Forest
The national forest managing the prescribed burning operations in Central Oregon.
Oregon Department of Forestry
Works with fire management officials to plan prescribed burns and monitor smoke impacts.
What’s next
Firefighters will reopen trails once conditions have been assessed and are determined safe for the public.
The takeaway
Prescribed burning is a critical forest management tool, but it requires careful planning and coordination to minimize smoke impacts on nearby communities. The Deschutes National Forest is taking steps to protect homes and forests while communicating with the public about potential smoke and trail closures.
