Sierra National Forest continues with the winter/spring prescribed burning within the Bass Lake Ranger District.
CLOVIS — The Sierra National Forest (SNF) will continue prescribed burning within the Bass Lake Ranger District, beginning Monday, March 14, as weather and air quality is optimal to start ignitions.
These treatments will consist of understory burning. This includes removing fuels created during tree mortality, timber harvest, and is designed to reintroduce fire under controlled conditions into this ecosystem to help improve forest health. The removal of these fuels provides multiple benefits by reducing the potential of a wildfire that would cause damage to wildlife habitat, watersheds, private property and provide safety zones for firefighting resources in the event of wildfire.
Firefighters on Dinkey South prescribed burn – photo SNF
The planned understory burning will take place on the Doublegate, located north of Oakhurst within the Lewis Creek drainage. A one-to-two-acre test burn will be conducted to ensure burn objectives will be meet. The burn ignitions are planned to take place starting on Monday with approximately 25-30 total treated acres, weather permitting.
Due to the location of these operations a few trails within the Miami OHV system will be temporarily closed to public use.
These burning activities have been coordinated with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to time the project with favorable weather conditions allowing for good smoke dispersion.
Localized smoke impacts may be felt in Oakhurst, Fish Camp, Sugar Pine, Cedar Valley, Bass Lake, Ahwahnee, and North Fork. For regional information about air quality, smoke conditions, and health effects, visit www.valleyair.org or visit www.airnow.gov.
Visitors may see smoke, active fire, and/or firefighters during these burns. Visitors and residents are asked to drive slowly and carefully as they enjoy the Forest.
For firefighter and public safety, signs will be posted along roadways where burning is taking place. If you would like more information on the prescribed burning, contact Burt Stalter, Bass Lake Ranger District Fuels Specialist at 559-877-2218. ext. 3208.
