UPDATE: Prescribed burning near Bates State Park cancelled this week
By Logan Bagett on Monday, May 11th, 2026 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
JOHN DAY – UPDATE: The John Day Interagency Dispatch Center has announced the Forest Service has cancelled plans to conduct prescribed burning this week.
Dispatch officials stated that, “Due to updated weather forecasts BMRD will be cancelling the upcoming Galena 40C/41 RX burn for this week. Please disregard the previous announcement of the RX.”
Temperatures are expected to exceed 90 degrees in Grant County for Tuesday, May 12th.
PREVIOUS: (Press Release from the Malheur National Forest)
The Blue Mountain Ranger District, Malheur National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations beginning May 11, 2026. Prescribed fire is utilized to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.
Prescribed fire units planned for the Blue Mountain Ranger District:
Galena 40C and 41. Locate 7 miles west of Bates State Park, at the junction of Forest Serve roads 2055 and 279. (531 acres)
The area may be closed to the public during operations for public safety. Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns.
Public land users may experience smoke during the prescribed burns. Go to https://fire.airnow.gov/ to find more detailed information about air quality. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road.
We will evaluate weather conditions in the days and hours before a burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may be canceled.
Stay informed about the scheduled prescribed fires through the forest website, PNW Prescribed Fire Tracker, social media channels, and InciWeb, the interagency incident information system. We will notify county emergency management officials when burning begins.
