UPDATE 05/09/2025, 5:00 p.m.: The controlled burn is now being mopped up in the Ashland watershed. Fire crews report completing all the acres planned for reducing fuels and wildfire risk reduction goals were met. Rain is expected on Sunday and, these favorable weather conditions have minimize smoke impacts for town. Trails in the watershed may have some smoke and, this evening smoke could move into town. If you smell smoke in your neighborhood, please take precautions on www.smokewiseashland.org. Trails will remain closed on city forest lands through Saturday for public safety (Wonder, Wasabi, Fell on Knee, Hitt Road trails on city lands).
We appreciate your patience with smoke and trail closures. Thank you to the fire teams with Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and Ashland Fire & Rescue for your dedication and hard work in reducing our summer wildfire risk.
UPDATE 5/09/2025: Controlled burn operations will continue today beginning at 10 a.m. Yesterday, fire crews completed 23 acres and if conditions allow, will complete 40 acres today. Thank you for your patience with trail closures and smoke as we reduce wildfire risk around our town's drinking water source.
UPDATE 5/08/2025: Work went well today and the first portion of the burn ignition was done at 2 p.m.. Fire crews will continue to monitor the burn and use water to cool hot spots and reduce smoke. Please see the message below about smoke precautions this evening in town. Burning will continue again tomorrow and into Saturday as progress allows.
UPDATE 5/07/2025: U.S. Forest Service Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest fire crews have received smoke clearance for a controlled burn operation on the west side of the Ashland watershed. The controlled burn operations will begin Thursday, May 8 and continue through Saturday, May 10.
ORIGINAL 5/06/2025:
CLOSED TRAILS ON CITY FOREST LANDS from Thursday, May 8 through Saturday, May 10: Lithia Loop Road (2060 road), Hitt Road (USFS 2060-300), Wonder, Fell on Knee and Wasabi Trails will be closed on city forest lands, and we are highly discouraging use during the burning for public and firefighter safety. Trails remain open east of Ashland Creek including the White-Rabbit area and Siskiyou Mountain Park.
SMOKE IMPACTS LIKELY: On Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings due to the proximity of the burn to town, areas likely to experience smoke are neighborhoods surrounding Lithia Park, Strawberry Lane, downtown Ashland, areas around Ashland Creek down to Bear Creek including but not limited to Helman Street, portions of the Railroad District, Oak Street, Hersey, Quiet Village neighborhood and Eagle Mill Road. More areas may be impacted depending on wind patterns. See smokewiseashland.org for tips on how to remain healthy during periods of smoke.
NOTIFICATIONS: You are receiving this Everbridge message through the alert system that reaches all Ashland residents through the Jackson Alerts system. To sign-up for ongoing updates on controlled burning, smoke alerts, for events and work activities in the Ashland watershed; text WATERSHED in the message line to recipient 888-777 for this non-emergency communication.
Location of Controlled Burn | USFS Public Land and City Forest Lands near USFS 2060-300, with Wonder, Fell on Knee and Wasabi Trails passing through the burn unit. |
Date(s) of Controlled Burns | Thursday, May 8 through Saturday, May 10 |
Potential Smoke Impacts | Areas likely to experience smoke are neighborhoods surrounding Lithia Park, Strawberry Lane, areas surrounding downtown and downtown Ashland, areas surrounding Ashland Creek down to Bear Creek including but not limited to Helman St, portions of the Railroad District, Oak Street, and Eagle Mill Road. More areas may be impacted depending on wind patterns. Smoke could be visible from different parts of town and from the I-5 freeway. |
Trail Closures on City Forest | Wonder, Wasabi, Fell on Knee, Hitt Road trails on city lands will be CLOSED during burn operations from Thursday, May 8 through Saturday, May 10. |
What to do if smoke is in the air | The City’s Smokewise Ashland site has all the resources you need to stay healthy. |
More information | www.smokewiseashland.org |
POSTED ON 5/06/2025: Pending final approval from the State of Oregon smoke forecast center on Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. Forest Service Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, with support from the City of Ashland, will conduct a strategic controlled burn for community wildfire safety beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 8 and continuing through Saturday, May 10.
More details will be released by 5 p.m. on Wednesday if final approval is granted. If the burn moves ahead, the west side of the Ashland watershed including the Lithia Loop Road (2060 road), Hitt Road (USFS 2060-300), Wonder, Fell on Knee, and Wasabi Trails will be closed or highly discouraged from use during the burning for public and firefighter safety.
If approved, smoke impacts in town are likely both Thursday and Friday evening due to the proximity of the burn. Areas likely to experience smoke are neighborhoods surrounding Lithia Park, Strawberry Lane, areas surrounding downtown and downtown Ashland, areas surrounding Ashland Creek down to Bear Creek including but not limited to Helman St, portions of the Railroad District, Oak Street, and Eagle Mill Road. More areas may be impacted depending on wind patterns. See smokewiseashland.org for tips on avoiding smoke impacts.
The map below outlines the planned burn (yellow), previous burn units (gray), and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest areas (green) show controlled burning units for the season.
Should the burn move forward, the City will send a non-emergency controlled burn message to all residents signed up in the Jackson Alerts system. People can register for alerts on the City’s Emergency Preparedness Webpage. Please check back on Thursday at 5 p.m. for more details.
“This burn has outsized importance for community safety and watershed protection. We’ve been working with our partners toward this goal for over a decade and we ask for your tolerance with smoke and closures as part of our ongoing wildfire readiness and adapting to hotter and drier summers.” said Chris Chambers, Forestry and Public Information Officer for the City of Ashland.
Watch an AFR Project video about proactive fire planning to learn more.
Firefighters managing a controlled burn in the Ashland Watershed in 2023
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