BEND, Ore. – Firefighters on the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District are preparing for a prescribed burn on Tuesday, weather permitting, to help reduce wildfire risks and improve forest health in the region. The burn will take place on up to 111 acres of the Tiddly Winks Unit 9, located about one mile west of Bend, south of Cascade Lakes Highway, near Aspen and Dillon Falls Day Use Areas.
Ignitions are scheduled to begin around 10 a.m., and smoke will likely be visible from several nearby areas, including Cascade Lakes Highway, Bend, and the surrounding regions. Residents of Bend, as well as those living south and east of the Deschutes River—particularly in Sunriver, La Pine, and Redmond—are being advised to keep doors and windows closed to reduce smoke exposure. The heaviest smoke impacts are expected overnight and in the early morning hours.
As part of the operations, the southbound lane of Forest Service Road (FSR) 41 will be closed due to smoke from the prescribed burn. A pilot car and flaggers will escort motorists through the area to ensure safety.
In addition to the road closures, several trails will be affected by the burn. Portions of the Storm King and Catch and Release trails will be closed. The entire section of Storm King south of Cascade Lakes Highway will be off-limits, and Catch and Release will be closed from the junction with FSR 100 south to FSR 490. Additionally, FSR 4110, FSR 4110-650, and FSR 490 will be closed entirely. These trail and road closures will remain in place for several days as mop-up and patrol operations are carried out following the prescribed burn. The closures will be lifted once conditions are deemed safe for public access.
Prescribed burns are a critical tool in managing forest health and reducing wildfire risks to communities. By removing excess vegetation and reintroducing fire to fire-dependent ecosystems, prescribed burns restore the balance of the landscape, which ultimately helps prevent the spread of larger, more dangerous wildfires. These controlled burns also improve public and firefighter safety by reducing fuel loads that could otherwise lead to more intense wildfires.
Fire management officials collaborate with Oregon Department of Forestry smoke specialists to ensure prescribed burns are conducted under optimal conditions, minimizing the impact of smoke on local communities. Although preventive measures are in place, some smoke is likely to reach surrounding areas during or immediately after the burn.
Firefighters are reminding the public to stay informed about potential smoke impacts and adhere to the trail and road closures for safety.
