Malheur National Forest to begin burning east of Seneca on Thursday
By Logan Bagett on Wednesday, April 8th, 2026 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
JOHN DAY / SENECA – (Press Release from the Malheur National Forest)
The Blue Mountain Ranger District, Malheur National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations beginning April 9, 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:
- Soda Bear 9C, located along Forest Service Road 1619 and 570, approximately 7 miles east of Seneca (77 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.
