Lassen National Forest fire officials have begun prescribed burning now that cooler and wetter conditions allow. These initiatives are designed to reduce the threat and severity of catastrophic fires across the landscape by removing highly flammable vegetation from the forest.
The following burns are tentatively planned for the months of October and November:
Bidwell – 130 acres of understory burning near Butte Creek Campground. Smoke may be visible from Highway 44.
Caboose/Elk – 350 acres of understory burning in the Crater Mountain area. Smoke may be visible from the Eagle Lake Basin and Highway 44.
Summit – 465 acres in the Logan Mountain area, approximately 15 miles west of Eagle Lake. Smoke may be visible from Susanville, the Eagle Lake Basin, Westwood, Spalding, while traveling on Highways 44 and 139, and on County Roads A1 and A21.
Houseman/Signal – 375 acres of understory burning near Dow Butte, six miles north of Spalding along Eagle Lake. Smoke may be visible from Susanville, the Eagle Lake Basin, while traveling on Highways 36 and 139, and on County Road A1.
Cold Springs – 150 acres of underburn in eastern Tehama County along a fuel break constructed in partnership with Sierra Pacific Industries and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. This project will begin in October and could continue through the winter. Smoke may be visible from Butte Meadows, Highway 32, Forest Ranch, and Cohasset.
Pile burning in the Almanor Ranger District – 600 acres of pile burning throughout Butte County, Tehama County and Plumas County. These piles come from two main sources, including hand piling understory vegetation and landing piles from mechanical thinning. Smoke may be visible in Mill Creek and Philbrook Lake.
Pile burning in the Eagle Lake Ranger District – 350 acres of landing piles and 100 acres of hand piles will be burned throughout the District. Smoke may be visible from Susanville, the Eagle Lake Basin, Westwood, Spalding, while traveling on Highways 44 and 139, and on County Roads A1 and A21.
Pile burning in the Hat Creek Ranger District – 370 acres of hand and machine piles will be burned this fall; smoke may be visible along Highway 44 and Summitt Lake.
Pile burning within the Reading Fire footprint – more than 550 acres will be burned; smoke may be visible from Highway 89, OId Station, and Redding.
Blacks Ridge – 500 acres will be burned this fall or next spring; smoke may be visible from Little Valley.
Pittville – 420 acres will be burned this fall or next spring; smoke may be visible from Pittville, Little Valley, Fall River Mills, and McArthur.
Mountain Home/Coyote Springs – 750 acres will be burned this fall or next spring; smoke may be visible from Highway 44, the Butte Creek area, Old Station, Hat Creek Valley, and Fall River Mills.
Burning will continue throughout the fall as long as air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, and fuel moisture remain within desired ranges. Notices and signs will be posted along major roadways during active burn operations and while smoke remains.
The prescribed burn program is designed to:
• Reduce hazardous fuels – including dead and fallen trees, dead branches, brush, and ladder fuels – that can feed wildfires.
• Restore fire-resilient forests to a more natural state by reintroducing fire into ecosystem.
• Improve understory productivity and vigor, increase and renew forage for wildlife, and increase nutrients released to the soil from consumed fuels.
For more information about the upcoming Bidwell, Cabosse/Elk, Summit, and Houseman/Signal burn projects, contact Eagle Lake Fuels Officer Chuck Lewis at 530-257-4188.
For more information about the Cold Springs burn, contact Almanor Fuels Technician Eric Kronner at 530-258-2141.
For more information about the Blacks Ridge, Pitville, Mountain Home/Coyote Springs projects and pile burning in the Reading Fire footprint, contact Hat Creek District Fire Management Officer Debbie Mayer or Dale Newby at 530-336-5521.
