Barlow Ranger District Prescribed Burn Near Rock Creek Reservoir Nearly Completed

Thanks to favorable weather conditions and moisture levels, spring prescribed burning season has arrived on Mt. Hood National Forest. Fire personnel from the Barlow Ranger District successfully burned around 207 acres west of Wamic. Firefighters have begun ignitions as of mid-May on the Rocky 79 prescribed fire unit. The unit is located about 3 miles southwest of Pine Hollow and 5 miles west of Wamic off Forest Road 48. As always, weather forecasts are assessed daily to determine if conditions are favorable for burning. Firefighters remained on site and continued patrols for several days until the fire was declared out.
Weather conditions are used to help minimize smoke impacts to roadways and communities. However, visibility along nearby national forest system roads sometimes degrade. When smoke is present, motorists should slow down and turn on headlights. Fire management officials work with Oregon Department of Forestry smoke specialists to plan prescribed burns. While significant preventive measures are taken to lessen smoke impacts, weather patterns can change and smoke could settle overnight. For more information about smoke and your health, visit the Oregon Health Authority recommendations online: https://bit.ly/41EGJI5
The Rocky 79 prescribed fire unit is part of the Rocky Restoration Project. This project improves landscape resilience to disease and fire in addition to improving habitat for the plants, fish and wildlife species that depend on it. In 2023, fire personnel successfully burned about 400 acres of adjacent national forest lands as part of this project.
Following an initial investment from Congress, the Forest Service is working with local partners to improve the health and resiliency of fire-dependent forests and protect surrounding communities from severe wildfire. There are three high-risk firesheds in Mt. Hood National Forest and this project targets areas within one such fireshed in Wasco County. Prescribed burns are critical tools for fire management and planned meticulously to ensure that they are safe and effective.