July 8, 2026 7:50 a.m. 

Weather and workload permitting, two prescribed pasture burns have been scheduled for Wednesday within the Douglas Forest Protective Association protection district.

DFPA Public Information Officer Rachel Pope said prescribed pasture burns are conducted to improve grazing lands for livestock, enhance wildlife habitat, and control noxious weeds, brush, insects, and plant diseases. Pope said historically, local landowners have conducted approximately 10,000 acres of prescribed burning annually throughout Douglas County to improve pasturelands and maintain healthy landscapes.

These burns also play an important role in wildfire prevention by reducing the buildup of grass, brush and other combustible vegetation. Fire officials note that many wildfires have been more easily contained in areas where prescribed burning has been conducted regularly.

Pope said to ensure public and firefighter safety, prescribed burns are carefully planned and conducted only after fire trails have been established, adequate personnel and fire suppression equipment are in place, and weather conditions are favorable. Burns are scheduled only when fire behavior and atmospheric conditions are expected to minimize smoke impacts on nearby communities by directing smoke away from larger populated areas.

Residents may see smoke in the vicinity of the planned burn areas during operations. Burns are scheduled for:

*3500 block of Sunshine Road

*400 block of Temple Brown Road.

Burns are estimated to begin around 11:30 a.m.