Forest Service pile burning begins in Douglas, Washoe, Alpine and Mono counties
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Mon, 10/16/2023 - 11:23am
As part of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s hazardous fuels reduction efforts, both Carson and Bridgeport Ranger Districts’ fire crews will conduct pile burning beginning in October through May, weather and fuel conditions permitting.
Prescribed fire is a proactive tool used to achieve several purposes, including the reduction of hazardous fuels, also known as overgrown vegetation. The three general types of prescribed fire are pile burning, understory, or under-burning, and broadcast burning.
They all help decrease the threat of high intensity, high-severity wildfires; reduce the risk of insect and disease outbreak; recycle nutrients that increase soil productivity; and improve wildlife habitat. Another benefit resulting from prescribed fire is a reduction in wildfire danger to local communities.
The actual days of ignition for pile burning will depend on several factors including appropriate humidity levels, wind speed and direction, temperature, and fuel moisture. Burns only occur on days when weather conditions exist for smoke dispersal. The public can get prescribed burn updates by visiting the Forest’s Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HumboldtToiyabeNF/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/HumboldtToiyabe) pages.
“Air quality considerations are an important part of prescribed fire, and each fire prescription is planned to disperse smoke rapidly and reduce lingering haze,” said Fuels Specialist Steve Howell. “Before each prescribed fire is ignited, fire managers will get approval from the local air quality district in which the burn is to take place.”
Fire crews divide large landscape burns into blocks of land over multiple days. This allows them to halt burning activity within those areas if anything is out of the pre-established prescription conditions, such as too much wind. Crews can start again when conditions are more acceptable.
Fire managers create a burn plan, which includes smoke management details, fire control measures, acceptable weather parameters, and equipment and personnel needs. The burn plan also describes in detail how the ecosystem will benefit from fire.
Please do not call 911 about burning in the areas referred below. Local fire departments are aware of these burning activities. For information on pile burning activities on the Bridgeport and Carson Ranger Districts, please contact Fuels Specialist Steve Howell at steven.howell@usda.gov or 775-884-8114.
An ArcGIS Story Map that explains how prescribed fire is good for National Forest System land can be viewed here.
Possible burn locations include:
NEVADA
Douglas County
Approximately 65 acres of pile burning in the Genoa Fuels Reduction Project area just west of Genoa, Nev., and along Nevada State Route 207.
Approximately 13 acres of pile burning in the Jobs Peak Fuels Reduction Project area just west of Highway 395 adjacent to the Jobs Peak Ranch Estates.
Washoe County
Roughly 18 acres of pile burning is planned in the Arrowhawk Fuels Reduction Project area five miles west of Reno, Nev. Burning will occur in the Mount Rose area near Timberline Road in the Thomas Creek and Whites Creek areas.
Around 37 acres of pile burning is planned in the North Washoe Valley Fuels Reduction Project area, 10 miles south of Reno, Nev. The piles are located behind the Chocolate Nugget Candy Factory west of Interstate 580.
Approximately 66 acres of pile burning is planned in the Little Valley Fuels Reduction Project area near Washoe Valley about two miles west of Washoe City, Nev., and 15 miles south of Reno, Nev.
CALIFORNIA
Alpine County
Approximately 454 acres of pile burning is planned in the Monitor Pass Habitat Restoration Project area at the top of Monitor Pass just southeast of Markleeville, Calif.
Approximately 155 acres of pile burning is planned in the West Carson Project area near the intersection of California State Route 89 and 88 in Hope Valley, Calif.
Approximately 53 acres of pile burning is planned in the Manzanita Fuels Reduction Project area just north Highway 88 near Woodfords, Calif.
Approximately 205 acres of pile burning is planned in the Tamarack Project area just west of Markleeville, Calif.
Sierra County
Roughly 83 acres of pile burning is planned in the Dog Valley Fuels Reduction Project area located one mile west of Verdi, Calif. The project area is near Summit One and along Forest Service Road 002 and 010 near Bordertown Casino and RV Resort.
Mono County
Approximately 72 acres of pile burning is planned for the Twin Lakes Fuels Reduction Project area, 10 miles southeast of Bridgeport, Calif. Piles are located on the south side of Upper Twin Lake and behind the Twin Lakes Resort on Lower Twin Lake.
Approximately 343 acres of pile burning is planned in the Mill Canyon Fuels Reduction Project area northwest of Walker, Calif., off U.S. Route 395.
