BEND, Ore.  — Fire crews are preparing to ignite a small prescribed burn on Thursday, June 5, as part of a hands-on training course aimed at developing wildland fire investigators. The burn will take place approximately one mile west of Sunriver and about two miles north of the Besson Day Use Area in Central Oregon.

If weather and site conditions are favorable, firefighters will begin igniting up to three acres around 10 a.m. The operation is part of the FI-210 Wildland Fire Origin and Cause Determination course, which trains participants to determine how wildfires start, collect evidence, and properly document scenes in simulated real-world scenarios.

Officials say the fire will be closely monitored and that no trail or road closures are anticipated. Crews will patrol the area regularly and continue monitoring until the burn is declared fully extinguished.

Smoke will likely be visible from Sunriver and surrounding communities throughout the day. Residents may also experience some smoke impacts overnight and during the early morning hours. Authorities recommend keeping windows and doors closed to limit indoor smoke exposure.

The prescribed fire serves as both a critical training opportunity and a tool for fire preparedness, as controlled burns can also help reduce hazardous vegetation and improve firefighter response strategies.

More information on prescribed burning in Central Oregon can be found at centraloregonfire.org. Updates specific to the Deschutes National Forest are available at fs.usda.gov/r06/deschutes. For real-time alerts, residents can follow @CentralORFire on X (formerly Twitter) or text “COFIRE” to 888-777.