PORTLAND, Ore. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers alerts motorists in the Eugene, Ore., area that a controlled ecological burn planned for southeast of Fern Ridge Reservoir this week may cause intermittent delays to traffic on Oregon State Highway 126 between Eugene and Veneta.
The Corps and its partners believe that a light low-level offshore wind may develop Thursday, potentially producing favorable burn conditions for the 80-acre Fisher Butte Unit near the intersection of Highway 126 and Fisher Road.
The best conditions for burning are usually between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wind conditions should keep smoke off the highway, but flaggers will be deployed to temporarily stop traffic if motorist safety becomes an issue.
The Corps and its partners conduct planned controlled ecological burns on lands in the southern Willamette Valley to protect and restore valuable biological diversity in prairie and savanna ecosystems. In addition, controlled ecological burns reduce the risks of wildfires to local residences through the removal of standing dead vegetation.
For the latest information about proposed ecological burns, visit the Willamette Valley Prescribed Fire Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WillametteValleyPrescribedFire, or call the Willamette Valley Prescribed Fire information line at 541-683-6970. A map of proposed burn units is available at http://willamettevalleyprescribedfire.blogspot.com.
Release no. 13-048