BLM plans prescribed burn at Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area
REEDSPORT, Ore. - Fire officials with the Bureau of Land Management plan to conduct a prescribed burn at the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area on June 30 and July 1, 2025.
Agency officials will burn approximately 100 acres of grass to improve elk forage and habitat at the popular wildlife viewing area. They will also reduce hazardous fuels in the roadside grasslands. Currently, the area is home to a wild herd of 80 to 100 Roosevelt elk.
The dates of the burn may change based on weather.
“Burning at Dean Creek is one of the best tools we have to encourage nutrient rich grasses to grow,” Glenn Huff, Umpqua Field Manager, said. “Green grasses emerge in as little as a week after the burn. This healthy grass is what keep the elk coming back year after year.”
The controlled burn may result in short traffic delays on Highway 38 between mile marker three and six. The BLM asks motorists to travel cautiously through the area. Traffic controllers will help direct traffic during periods of reduced visibility. The main viewing area, kiosk, and restrooms will remain open during the burn operation.
BLM fire officials coordinate with the Oregon Department of Forestry’s smoke management program to burn during weather conditions that minimize the amount of smoke in local communities. Smoke from the burn may be visible from Reedsport and other nearby locations.
Contractors, Coos Forest Protective Association, and U.S. Forest Service personnel will assist the BLM with the burning operations.
For additional information, please visit the BLM’s wildland fire program page. Photos and video of the Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area and past prescribed burns are available on Flickr.
The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.