A 450-acre prescribed burn in the Deschutes National Forest west of Bend kicked up a cloud of visible smoke Thursday as the Forest Service embarked on its yearly effort to clear fire fuels ahead of hotter months.

Firefighters with the Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District began a low-intensity burn at around 9 a.m. Thursday approximately three miles west of Bend, north of Century Drive and south of Skyliners Road, near the intersection of two mountain biking trails called Grand Slam and Ticket to Ride. The Forest Service closed portions of the Grand Slam trail and Forest Service Road 4615. The closures will remain in place for several days while mop-up and patrol operations continue until the burn is complete, according to a press release issued by the Forest Service Wednesday afternoon.

Burning forest understory in a controlled manner reduces the risk that larger fires will burn into communities later on, and restores the natural cycle of fire to the ecosystem, according to the Forest Service.

The agency said it works with the Oregon Department of Forestry to plan prescribed burn hours when smoke is least likely to impact people nearby.

“While prescribed fire managers take significant preventive measures, it’s likely that communities may experience some smoke during or immediately after a prescribed burn,” the press release said.

To avoid smoke impacts, the Forest Service encourages people to close windows and doors at night, use portable air cleaners, or use a central air system to filter air.

Visit centraloregonfires.org for more information on prescribed burns and the smoke impacts website at AirNow.gov for more on smoke.