The Land Trust plans to conduct a prescribed burn in early May at our Metolius Preserve. Prescribed burning is the next step in our forest restoration efforts to help reduce wildfire danger at our Preserve and for our neighbors, while also helping mimic historic forest conditions and improving habitat for wildlife.

The prescribed burn will be completed in conjunction with our partners at The Nature Conservancy, Deschutes National Forest/Sisters Ranger District, and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). The burn will occur in the southern section of the Preserve where we completed a mowing operation in 2023. The Preserve will remain open during the burn period, but we recommend staying off the Pine Trails in the southern section of the Preserve due to smoke and burn impacts. A map of the burn area will be available soon.

The prescribed burn is weather-dependent and will be completed in consultation with ODF and in compliance with their smoke management plan. We will postpone burning if weather conditions are unfavorable. To learn more:

To learn more:

• Watch the Land Trust’s Instagram and Facebook pages for updates as we get closer to the burn window, and for burn day updates.
• Join us for a Post-Burn Tour. If we are successful in burning, tour the burn area with Land Trust staff and learn about how fire helps our forests thrive: June 4, 2026 from 1-3pm.

Dig deeper:

• Metolius Preserve Forest Restoration
• East Cascade Dry Forests and their historic conditions