It’s that time of year when the Forest Service begins its prescribed burns. Expect to see periodic smoke over the mountains of Northern California through spring, although it seems most common in fall.
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
I’ve already seen pronouncements of prescribed burns for Klamath National Forest, and the Shasta-Trinity National Forest prescribed burning announcement was just released. Here it is:
Prescribed burning to begin on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest
REDDING, Calif. (October 7, 2009) – Prescribed burning projects are planned to begin this fall on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest as low temperatures continue. As part of the forest-wide hazardous fuels reduction project, fire personnel have been monitoring weather conditions daily since the onset of cooler conditions across the area.
“Cooler weather and moisture have moved into the area in the past few weeks,” Fuels and Fire Prevention Specialist Julie Titus said. “Weather and vegetation conditions must meet certain criteria in order to implement a prescribed fire or to burn piles of slash.” Slash is wood debris that accumulates naturally or when thinning an area.
Prescribed or “controlled” burning is only used by fire managers when certain criteria, such as wind speed and direction, temperatures, relative humidity, and moisture in trees and brush are all within identified parameters.
“The removal of accumulated brush and trees is a very important piece in establishing healthy and fire resilient forests,” Arlen Cravens, Forest Fire Management Officer, said. “A prescribed burn is one of the tools fire managers use to enhance forest ecosystems.”
Fall, winter and spring weather often provide better conditions for prescribed burning. Over the next several months, the public may see smoke in various parts of the forest. This project will have some short-term impacts on air quality levels, but air quality levels will comply with all state and federal air quality regulations.
Any burning activity will be accomplished during weather conditions that would minimize impacts of smoke on communities. All burning is done within parameters set forth in an approved burn plan. The prescribed burning program is usually completed in early to mid-spring.
Areas that are planned for prescribed burning:
National Recreation Area Shasta Lake (NRA): Lakehead area, Packer’s Bay, Jones Valley vicinity and Green Mountain (East shores of Shasta Lake in Pitt Arm area).
South Fork Management Unit (SFMU): Just north of the town of Hayfork; west of Hayfork (six to seven miles); Post Mountain area; Wildwood area; south of Harrison Guard Station (Beegum Gorge); South Fork Mountain.
Shasta McCloud Management Unit (SMMU): Pile burning east/northeast of McCloud as well as along the Everitt Memorial Highway north of Mt. Shasta; the “McIntosh” underburn project located off the Harris Spring Road approximately two miles northeast of Highway 89; the “White Deer” project at White Deer Lake.
Trinity River Management Unit (TRMU): Weaverville, Musser Hill, Rainier Road; west of Trinity Lake, Buckeye and Haylock Ridges; west of Trinity Dam, North Whitney; northwest of French Gulch, and areas within the Iron Fire Complex.
Pile burning operations will be conducted at various forest administrative sites and campground areas around the forest throughout the season.
Specific project location information is available online at www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity. Additionally, prescribed fire announcements will be placed at local Ranger Stations and post offices a few days prior to implementation.
For updated information on the implementation process, please call the local District Offices.
Shasta Lake National Recreation Area- (530) 275-1587
South Fork Management Unit- (530) 352-4211
Shasta-McCloud Management Unit- (530) 926-4511
Trinity-River Management Unit- (530) 623-2121
For more information on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest go to www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity.
Most national forests around the state will be following “soot,” so we hikers will have to deal with occasional smoke.
Courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service
