Fire specialists on the Lassen National Forest have been preparing for prescribed burn projects across all three districts while waiting for favorable conditions to begin operations. Work began on the ground last week and will continue through the fall as weather and conditions allow.
The various prescribed fire fuels projects include approximately three thousand acres of pile burns across all three districts, with the majority in the Dixie Fire footprint.
The Almanor Basin underburn: approximately eight hundred acres south of West Shore and approximately 1,800 acres in Warner Valley, north of Chester.
The Front Country underburn: approximately five hundred acres near Panther Springs.
The North 49 Prescribed Fire Project: approximately four hundred acres in the Ashpan Snowmobile Park area along Forest Service Road-17, and approximately 320 acres along Forest Service Road-17 near Manzanita Chutes.
The Eastside underburn: approximately 2,000 acres in the Halls Flat to Hat Creek Rim area near Jelly Springs.
The Bailey underburn: approximately 1,700 acres two miles east of Hwy 44 on Forest Service Road-21 and south of Pine Creek Valley.
The Signal underburn: approximately 2,000 acres two miles north of Spaulding on County RD 105 in the Dow Butte area.
The Lassen National Forest land management strategy is centered on long-term forest health and that strategy includes reducing forest fuels and using prescribed burning on the landscape.
Prescribed burns are conducted within a “prescription” that is determined by appropriate fuel moisture, temperature, humidity, wind, and ventilation. Experienced fire and fuels specialists on the Lassen National Forest build prescribed burn plans using the most up-to-date science and modeling along with their combined on the ground fire and fuels experience.
Fire personnel implement, evaluate, check, and patrol each burn to ensure it meets the goals and objectives outlined in the prescribed fire plans.
Prescribed fire helps us protect people’s livelihoods, property, and critical infrastructure, such as powerlines, and telecommunication links, thus reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire impacting our local communities.
Prescribed fires reduce hazardous fuels, minimizes the spread of pest insects and disease, provides forage for game, improves habitat, recycles nutrients back to the soil, and promotes the growth of trees, wildflowers, and other plants, contributing to overall forest health.
The Forest Service will post signs on roads likely to be affected by operations as work begins in each of the project areas this season. Weather is expected to be below average temperatures with intermixed precipitation as we enter a fall cooling trend.
Fire activity is expected to be low to moderate during the initial burn periods. Fire specialists anticipate daytime smoke impacts during these times, and in the early morning and late evening as smoke settles into valleys and low-lying areas. Please use caution while driving through these areas and slow down for the safety of firefighters and the public. Check for smoke impacts in your area at www.airnow.gov.
To see any available maps for these prescribed fire projects, click here and visit Lassen National Forest’s website.
