SISTERS, Oregon — Deschutes National Forest fuel specialists, in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Forestry, are planning the fourth in a series of controlled burns near Sisters to occur on Friday, March 30. The burn will be located south of the McKenzie Highway (approximate three miles west of Sisters) and directly adjacent to the Crossroads Subdivision. Fuel specialists plan to burn an additional 120 acres of Deschutes National Forest adjacent to the Crossroads Subdivision throughout the spring season.

This 60-acre planned burn will reduce brush and woody debris that can feed wildland blazes such as the 9,400-acre Black Crater Fire, which forced the evacuation of two subdivisions before it was contained in August 2006.

All controlled burns are weather-dependent and completed in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan. Fire specialists will postpone burning if winds are not forecasted to disperse smoke to less-populated areas.

Smoke might settle with cooler air in evening and morning hours, even with favorable winds, so nearby residents should close windows and doors to keep smoke out of structures.

For more information, contact Sisters Ranger District at (541) 549-7700.