Prescribed burn in Ochoco National Forest

The U.S. Forest Service is planning to burn around 550 acres in the Ochoco National Forest on Thursday.

The Forest Service plans to ignite grasses and other ground-based fuel in the McKay area, near the junction of Forest Service Roads 27 and 2705, about 14 miles northeast of Prineville, according to a news release from the federal agency. The burns would begin late Thursday morning and could continue Friday if weather conditions allow it.

This burn is part of a larger 750-acre unit in the Ochoco National Forest that the Forest Service has been working on for several years. The goals of the project include improving habitat and forage quality for big game and livestock, as well as reintroducing fire to an ecosystem dominated by fir and ponderosa pine trees.

Smoke will be most visible from forest roads 27, 2705 and 33, and on adjacent roads, according to the release. No road closures are anticipated with this project.

Police seek information on River Trail groping

Bend Police are looking for information about a man believed to have groped a female jogger on the Deschutes River Canyon Trail on Saturday.

A 45-year-old woman from Bend was running with her dogs on the trail Saturday evening when she saw a man wearing dark pants and a dark jacket or hoodie approach, according to police. She pulled the dogs to the side of the trail near the southern footbridge to let him pass, police said.

The man grabbed at her waist and buttocks as he walked by, police said. One of her dogs ran off during the encounter, but the two were later reunited.

Police believe the man is between 20 and 40 years old, with an average build. Officers searched for him with a police dog and a drone, but they couldn’t find him.

It was the only reported incident of sexual harassment on the Deschutes River Trail that day. Police want residents to call 541-693-6911 with any additional information about this incident or similar occurrences on the trail.

More controlled burns, now south of Sisters

Additional controlled burns are slated for the Deschutes National Forest on Thursday.

The U.S. Forest Service is planning to ignite about 180 acres of forest south of Sisters, adjacent to Three Creek Lake Road (Forest Road 16), according to a news release.

Firefighters will continue burning on the Crescent Ranger District, approximately 10 miles south of Crescent.

The burn outside Sisters is part of the Sisters Area Fuels Reduction project, which is designed to minimize the potential of high-intensity wildfires in the area in the future, while increasing defensible space to improve public safety during a wildfire, according to the release.

Due to the location of these units, the public could see smoke on nearby highways and forest roads. No major road closures are anticipated with these projects, according to the release.

The Forest Service encourages the public to close windows if they see smoke on the roadway, and turn on headlights and slow down while traveling through smoky areas.

— Bulletin staff reports