Sequoia National Forest To Begin Fuels Reduction Projects

Kernville, Ca…. Fuels Reduction projects will begin mid October in the Greenhorn Mountains of Kern County surrounding the community of Alta Sierra, at elevations between 5,000 and 7,700 feet. The forest surrounding the community of Alta Sierra is overly dense, has high amounts of hazardous fuels and represents a high risk of hazard to the community. Fuel reduction activities on the project will have beneficial impacts on health and safety in the project area by reducing the risk of a stand-replacing fire and restoring ecosystems while improving public safety.

Forest Service crews have been working in the area for the past several months preparing fire lines, cutting ladder fuels to prepare for burning this fall. Prep work is necessary to ensure the project work is accomplished safely and to provide control. Included in the plan are both pile and understory burning (understory burns are controlled fires that consume surface fuels but not the overstory canopy). This project is one of several fuel reduction projects in and around the community of Alta Sierra coordinated between the Forest Service, Kern County Fire Department and the Kern River Valley Fire Safe Council.

This is the first phase of a 5 year project that will encompass up to 4,000 acres at completion. The Forest Service expects to burn 1,500 acres this year in small units designed to minimize effects of smoke on the community while reducing the potential for large, stand replacing wildfires. Smoke will be visible from most communities surrounding Isabella Lake. Road and/or trail closures are not anticipated. Fire Managers will work closely with the Eastern Kern County Air Pollution Control District to manage smoke production and reduce any local impacts.

Several other hazardous fuel reduction projects are scheduled for this winter on the Kern River Ranger District. These projects include the Piute Mountains, Kern Plateau, Upper Kern River campgrounds, and Camp 9 on the eastside of Isabella Lake.

Prescribed burn efforts will continue throughout the winter as weather and available resources permit. For further information please contact the Lake Isabella Ranger Station at (760) 379-5646 or the Kernville Ranger Station at (760) 376-3781, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.