Two Prescribed Pasture Burns Planned Wednesday in Douglas County

Two prescribed pasture burns are tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, within the Douglas Forest Protective Association protection district.

The burns are expected to begin around 11:30 a.m., weather and workload permitting.

The planned locations are:

• 3500 block of Sunshine Road
  • Watch Duty: https://app.watchduty.org/i/107090
• 400 block of Temple Brown Road
  • Watch Duty: https://app.watchduty.org/i/107091

Residents near the burn areas may see smoke while operations are underway.

Prescribed pasture burning is commonly used to improve grazing land, support wildlife habitat, control weeds and brush, and reduce the amount of dry vegetation that could fuel a wildfire.

Local landowners have historically conducted about 10,000 acres of prescribed burning each year across Douglas County. Fire officials say areas that are regularly treated with prescribed fire can also be easier to defend when wildfires occur.

Before a burn begins, crews establish fire trails and make sure enough personnel and firefighting equipment are available. Burns are only conducted when weather and atmospheric conditions are considered favorable.

Officials also take smoke movement into account and try to schedule burns when smoke is expected to move away from larger populated areas.

The burns planned for Wednesday remain subject to change depending on weather conditions and other fire activity.