09/22/2026
With fall conditions returning to South-Central Oregon, agencies are preparing to take advantage of ideal conditions for prescribed fire operations. In the coming weeks, members of the South-Central Oregon Fire Management Partner plan to carry out a series of prescribed fire operations, including underburning and pile burning.
Fall weather in the forecast means fire crews will have a small window to complete prescribed fire operations. Because weather is one critical factor to the success of any prescribed fire, groundwork must begin early. If overall fuel and weather conditions are favorable, firefighters ignite a test fire then proceed with lighting prescribed burns. If the test fire indicates conditions are not suitable, the prescribed fire will be postponed until conditions improve. Once firefighters ignite prescribed burns, they patrol the units until they are declared out.
Communities including Bly, Chemult, Chiloquin, Klamath Falls, Lakeview, Silver Lake and the surrounding areas may see increased fire traffic and smoke as prescribed fire operations are carried out. Immediate areas where prescribed fires are taking place will be clearly signed and may have increased fire personnel, equipment, slow traffic, and smoke. Please stay clear of these areas, when possible, for public and firefighter safety.
Prescribed burning reintroduces and maintains fire within our fire-dependent ecosystem by removing concentrations of vegetation, improving habitat, enhancing watershed, restoring forest health and decreasing risk of catastrophic wildfires.
Firefighters work with Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Oregon Department of Forestry smoke forecasters to identify conditions that will minimize smoke impacts on people and communities. While prescribed fire managers take significant preventive measures, it’s likely that communities may experience some smoke during or immediately after a prescribed burn. Most smoke impacts occur during the night and early morning hours.
For more information on smoke and air quality, including the current AQI, please visit https://www.airnow.gov/.
Stay Informed:
https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/districts/ORLFC/intel/intelligence.php
https://www.facebook.com/SCOFMPFIREINFO
