Three Prescribed Pasture Burns Scheduled in Douglas County Sept. 30

Three prescribed pasture burns are scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 30, near Roseburg, Canyonville, and Lookingglass, according to an updated schedule from the Douglas Forest Protective Association.

Residents and drivers may see smoke from the burns in surrounding communities and along several major roads. All three burns are tentative and could be rescheduled or adjusted because of weather, smoke conditions, or operational needs.

Wednesday’s Burn Schedule

• 1 p.m. - 700 block of Buckhorn Road, Roseburg: Smoke may be visible from Interstate 5, Highway 138/Diamond Boulevard, North Bank, Roseburg, and Dixonville.
• 1 p.m. - 9000 block of Tiller Trail Highway, Canyonville: Smoke may be visible from Tiller, Days Creek, Milo, Canyonville, Myrtle Creek, Riddle, and Tri City.
• 2:30 p.m. - 900 block of Coosbay Wagon Road, Lookingglass: Smoke may be visible from Highway 42, Lookingglass, Porter Creek, Melrose, and Roseburg.

Why Landowners Burn Pastures

Prescribed pasture burning helps landowners improve grazing areas, enhance wildlife habitat, and control noxious weeds, brush, insects, and plant diseases. It also reduces accumulated grasses and other vegetation that can fuel wildfires.

According to DFPA, approximately 10,000 acres have historically been treated with prescribed burning each year throughout Douglas County to improve pasturelands and maintain healthy landscapes.

The burns are planned for conditions expected to limit smoke impacts on nearby communities while protecting the public and firefighters. Appropriate personnel and fire suppression equipment are required to be in place during burning operations, DFPA said.

DFPA Issues Permits; Landowners Conduct the Burns

The scheduled burns are being conducted by private landowners under permits issued by DFPA. The association serves as the permitting agency for these burns on lands within its protection area and is not conducting them.

Other fire agencies may issue prescribed burn permits within their own jurisdictions. DFPA’s schedule covers only the permits it issues and does not account for every prescribed burn that may take place in Douglas County.

Additional locations may be added as permits are finalized. Residents should follow DFPA for schedule changes and other fire information.