Wildfire Season Alert: Burn Bans and Prescribed Burns Coming to Central Oregon

Good morning, this is your Bend Local Frequency for Thursday, April 30.Kicking off with some critical fire safety news thats hitting close to home this dry season. Redmond Fire and Rescue is rolling out a full outdoor debris burn ban starting right at midnight tonight, thanks to the early wildfire risks were already seeing across Central Oregon. If youre planning any yard cleanups, hold off on those burns to keep our neighborhoods safe and prevent sparks from turning into headaches for firefighters. Meanwhile, out west of Bend, crews from the Deschutes National Forest are firing up prescribed burns today on the Tiddlywinks 2 unit, covering up to 283 acres just a mile from town, south of Cascade Lakes Highway and along Forest Service Road 41. Ignitions kick off around 11 a.m., so expect smoke drifting into Bend, the Deschutes River areas, Sunriver, and La Pine, especially overnight and early mornings. A pilot car might guide traffic on the highway if visibility dips. Further south on the Crescent Ranger District, theyre burning 100 acres on the Sting 7 and 8 units, about 12 miles southwest of Crescent, with no road closures expected but smoke possibly showing up along Highways 97 and 58. To stay healthy through it all, keep windows shut at night, crank up those air filters or make a DIY one, and if youve got respiratory issues, chat with your doc if things feel off. Head to centraloregonfire.org for tips that could make all the difference when smoke rolls in.Shifting to brighter community wins, local health leaders are buzzing about a game-changing 15-bed child psychiatric facility coming to Redmond. Advocates call it a true lifeline for Central Oregon kids facing acute mental health crises, cutting down long waits and travel for families right here in the High Desert. This means faster care closer to home, easing the strain on parents and giving youth the support they need to bounce back stronger.On the everyday front, gas prices are spiking double digits across Oregon and 49 states, so fill up smart today if youre heading out for adventures. With spring in full swing, hit the trails early before smoke picks up, or catch live music and events listed in The Source weekly guide perfect for soaking up that Bend vibe.This has been Bend Local Frequency. Well see you tomorrow with more local updates.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AIThis episode includes AI-generated content.