Home » Headlines » Fires » Prescribed Burning Ops Continue On Sierra National Forest

Prescribed Burning Ops Continue On Sierra National Forest

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST — Prescribed burning operations have been started along Forest Road 5s12 east of Ponderosa Basin up to Sonny Meadows.

These are piles of road hazard trees felled and piled over the last year, says SNF Battalion Chief Burt Stalter.

“We have approx 200 acres of burn piles to complete around the west side of Sonny Meadows and these burning ops will be very visible from around the area,” says Stalter. “We are burning around 20-30 piles per day and all were lined by dozer a couple of weeks back.”

Piles are reported to be burning well with good consumption and no spotting problems, and will be patrolled over the weekend by Forest Service crews.

Other areas with continued burning are on the Detwiler contingency lines.

The Sierra National Forest also plans prescribed burning in Blue Canyon. Fire Managers on the High Sierra Ranger District are planning to begin ignitions for the 702 acre Rush Creek understory on Tuesday Jan. 30.

The initial push will be for three units totaling 237 acres (unit 1,3,5,6 see attached Maps), using the advantage of favorable weather conditions, coupled with the cooler weather and shorter days provide a good opportunity as long as the weather and air quality cooperate, say Fire Managers.

Fire personnel and equipment will be committed to this project until the treatment is extinguished as burn days permit. The 702-acre understory is broken up into several units and it is expected to take approximately one to two weeks to complete ignitions, with active burning being visible for several weeks after.

The Forest Service coordinates all burning activities with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to time the project to coincide with favorable weather conditions and smoke dispersion. Smoke may be visible from the greater Fresno/Clovis communities, and along Highway 168. Localized smoke impacts may be felt around Shaver Lake, Dinkey Creek and McKinley Grove roads.

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 firefighters during the burn, and 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.

For questions regarding the Rush Creek prescribed fire, contact Adam Hernandez Fuels Specialist, High Sierra Ranger District Office at (559) 855-5355.

Leave a Reply

Sierra News Online

Sierra News Online