Residents in Susanville, Ravendale and Doyle may notice smoke on the horizon starting this week, but there is no cause for alarm. The Bureau of Land Management’s Eagle Lake Field Office has announced plans to conduct prescribed burning projects across Lassen County beginning this Wednesday, January 21st, and continuing through the winter and spring months.
These operations are part of a larger fuels reduction effort aimed at improving fire resilience in the wildland-urban interface – the area where natural landscapes meet local communities.
What to Expect
According to the BLM, smoke will likely be visible from several key travel corridors and communities, including communities including Susanville, Ravendale and Doyle. Smoke will also be visible to people traveling on Horse Lake Road, Highway 395 and State Route 139.
Crews will be burning piles of brush, limbs, and small trees – debris that resulted from previous fuels reduction projects. By removing this excess vegetation now, the BLM aims to improve conditions for wildfire suppression and structure defense during the heightened fire season later in the year.
Project Locations
The projects will cover approximately 600 acres total across four specific locations in the county:
- North Horse Mountain: Located four miles east of Horse Lake.
- Ravendale Fire Station
- Hidden Valley Fire Facility
- Doyle Fire Station
Safety and Conditions
The BLM emphasizes that burning will take place only on “allowable burning days.” Crews will conduct the projects strictly in accordance with burn plans that specify required weather conditions, fuel moisture levels, and the necessary personnel and equipment to ensure safe and successful operations.
If weather or fuel conditions do not allow for safe burning, the projects will be paused until conditions improve.
Residents with questions or concerns regarding the prescribed burns are encouraged to contact the BLM Eagle Lake Field Office at 1.530.257.0456.
