BEND, OR -- Deschutes National Forest fuels specialists plan to light several prescribed burns, beginning Thursday. The first is an 80-acre burn expected east of Highway 97, one mile west of Horse Butte along the south side of Bend. Another 51-acre burn is expected three miles west of Sisters, adjacent to Black Butte Ranch.

Depending on weather, other burns could happen this weekend northwest of Wickiup Reservoir, including a 281-acre effort. They expect to begin work west of Bend by early next week.

In a statement, forestry officials said, "All prescribed burns have been scheduled to take advantage of the cooler and more humid fall season, which minimizes the detrimental impacts of a summer wildfire by consuming surface fuels and reducing shrub and small trees densities. These prescribed fire projects are being conducted to reduce the threat of large scale wildfire to the community of Bend." No road closures are expected, but the burns could send dense smoke into the area.