ASHLAND, Ore. (Nov. 6, 2026) — A six-acre prescribed burn is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 6, at Hald Strawberry Park in Ashland as part of ongoing efforts to reduce wildfire risks and restore native plant communities.
The planned burn will be conducted by Ashland Fire & Rescue and Grayback Forestry between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on the hills above downtown Ashland.
Residents should expect to see smoke in the area during the operation. Officials are asking the public not to report the planned smoke to 911 or the fire department.
The park will be closed to visitors beginning at 10 a.m. Friday and remain closed until dark. Firefighters will continue working at the site after ignition, mopping up and patrolling the burn area through the evening.
Hald Strawberry Park is expected to reopen Saturday. However, people who are sensitive to smoke are encouraged to avoid the area until Monday.
Nearby residents are advised to close their windows to prevent smoke from entering their homes. Smoke is not expected to linger far into the evening because the prescribed burn will involve light fuels.
Additional information about avoiding smoke exposure is available at smokewiseashland.org.
The prescribed burn is intended to reduce accumulated wildfire fuels while helping restore native plant communities in an area where fire historically played an important ecological role.
Ashland Fire & Rescue and Grayback Forestry have worked together on prescribed burning projects in and around the community since 2012. The partnership has completed hundreds of acres of prescribed burns aimed at restoring fire to the region’s fire-dependent ecosystem while helping protect the community and watershed from severe summer wildfires.
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