Controlled Burns in Lassen Volcanic National Park

It’s that time of year when the smoke from controlled burns fills the skies of Northern California, including over Lassen Volcanic National Park trails and nearby. The blessed rain of early October took care of most of the remnants of the major wildfires and smoky skies we suffered through this summer. After just a week or so of clear skies, the burns started in Siskiyou County and other parts of the North State.

Note: This post is from 2008!

For current information, please contact Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Lassen Volcanic National Park Controlled Burns

Lassen Volcanic National Park controlled burns start tomorrow:

The planned 258-acre Butte Lake prescribed burn will be in the northeast section of the park, east of Butte Creek to the park and the U.S Forest Service boundary.

The fire is intended to remove thick undergrowth, open the forest canopy to allow more sunlight to penetrate to the forest floor and to prepare a seed bed to help new pines grow, park officials say.

There are many reasons for the controlled burns, including removing thick underbrush that would make future wildfires much worse, and also promoting growth of certain tree and shrub species that require wildfires to thrive, as described above.

There’s a downside though. We continue to suffer with lower air quality from the smoky air, and we’re adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming.

Hikers need to be aware that most, if not all, the smoke plumes they see during autumn rambles come from the controlled burns.

Your Take

Any thoughts on the wisdom of controlled burns? Do they affect your hiking plans?

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