Additional burning in West Eugene Wetlands & Finley NWR on Monday

Today's burning (Sunday) went off without any issues, with the smoke quickly dispersing up and out of the Eugene area. Both Turtle Swale (near Checkermallow Access on the south side of Royal Avenue) and Speedway (west of Walmart and south of West 11th) were burned, with all ignitions complete by 1:40 pm. Firefighters continued to work until evening to extinguish all residual smolder and ensure that fire remains under control. Firefighters will continue to patrol the burn units tonight, and tomorrow.

Strong high pressure aloft over the Willamette Valley will shift east on Monday resulting in light offshore low-level flow. This will create another day of optimal burning conditions in the West Eugene Wetlands as well as the William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge.

In West Eugene, approximately 7 acres will be burned in the Army Corps of Engineers Experimental Plots on the northeast shore of Fern Ridge Reservoir. These experimental plots are designed to test the effectiveness of a variety of habitat restoration treatments when combined with and without the application of fire. These small burn-units (labeled #15 on the map, below) are located south of Clear Lake Road and west of Fir Butte Road.

Burning in West Eugene Wetlands on 9/25 & 26

Favorable weather for burning and maintaining air quality is forecast for Sunday and Monday in West Eugene Wetlands. Turtle Swale (south of Royal Avenue), Speedway (north of West 18th), and Army Corps of Engineers Research Plots (between Clearlake Road and Fern Ridge Reservoir) are planned for burning. Timing and order of burning will depend on fog coverage and wind direction.

No burning in West Eugene anticipated for next several days

Friday was an excellent burn day in the West Eugene Wetlands, with ecological and air quality objectives being met in all four planned burn areas. The current weather forecast is not indicating any additional burn opportunities this week, but that may change. In the meantime, here are some photos from Friday.

Reed-canary grass, while deceptively green, is highly flammable.

Sprinklers being utilized on a burn unit near Highway 126. The sprinklers add an extra level of safety in ensuring that the fire stays under control where conditions warrant.

A crewmember from the Willamette National Forest watching fire back toward the upwind side of a burn unit.

A crewmember from the Willamette National Forest ignites flanking fire along the side of a burn unit.

Fire burns through a stand of Oregon ash, Areas where fire burns intensely will be top-killed, allowing growing space for other plants in the understory. Frequent historic and prehistoric likely limited Oregon ash to wet sites where fire did not spread.

Burning east of Fern Ridge Reservoir today (9/16)

Favorable northerly winds are in the forecast today, allowing for additional burning in West Eugene Wetlands. Burning will be in the vicinity of Fir Butte Road, and Fern Ridge Reservoir between Clearlake Road and Highway 126.

Burn units planned include:
Fir Butte- 4 ac
Royal Ave Prairies and Fisher Butte East -36 ac
Fisher Butte West -18 ac
Experimental Plots - 7 ac

Potential burning in West Eugene Wetlands on Thursday & Friday

Favorable winds and weather are predicted for burning for ecological conservation and habitat restoration in the west Eugene wetlands this Thursday and Friday, September 15th and 16th.  Ignitions are planned to begin around 11:00 tomorrow morning at Willow Creek Preserve (#5, 6, and 7 on the map) for maintenance of habitat for federally endangered Fender's blue butterfly (lcaricia icarioides fenderi) and its host plant, Kincaid's lupine (Lupinus sulphureus), as well as ecological health of oak woodlands.  Units located within the Fern Ridge Reservoir area are planned for Friday.  Stay tuned for more details!

Burning season is just around the corner

Now that widespread rain has lowered the fire danger across the region, it is beginning to look like prescribed burning season in the Willamette Valley. The first favorable weather for dispersing smoke away from burns in West Eugene is predicted to occur next week (week of September 12th). Notification postcards have been sent to properties within 1/4 mile of a planned burn unit. We are currently experiencing difficulty with our Prescribed Fire Information Line (541-683-6970). In the meantime, you may request further information or notification regarding burning of particular units by emailing ejohnson@blm.gov.