Prescribed burn planned near Rock Creek Reservoir

For both safety and effectiveness, prescribed fires are carefully planned and only implemented under specific conditions. Staff will also evaluate conditions in the hours before a burn begins. Scheduled burning activities may be postponed or canceled, depending on factors such as weather, fuel moisture, and air quality. Firefighters will remain on site and continue patrols until the fire is declared out.

Residents or visitors may experience smoke during prescribed burning operations. Visit fire.airnow.gov for more details about your area’s air quality. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights if you encounter smoke on the road. Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns. 

Stay updated on scheduled prescribed fire activities through the forest website and Facebook page. County emergency management officials will be notified when burning begins.  

The Rock Creek prescribed fire project is part of the Rocky Restoration Project. The Rocky Restoration Project improves landscape resilience to disease and fire in addition to improving habitat for the plants, fish, and wildlife species that depend on it. 

Mt. Hood National Forest uses prescribed fire to reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires. Learn more about Mt. Hood National Forest fire management: www.fs.usda.gov/r06/mthood/fire/management.