Prescribed Burning Scheduled for the Whitney Portal Road Area

Prescribed Burning Scheduled for the Whitney Portal Road Area
Release Date: Feb 17, 2012 Bishop, CA
Contact(s): Nancy Upham

Lone Pine, CA. As part of the Inyo National Forest’s plan for hazardous fuels reduction, a controlled vegetation burn is scheduled to be conducted in early March. The actually date and time will be weather dependent. The burn unit is 130 acres and located northwest of Hogback Road (FS Road #14S04) and northeast of the switchbacks on Whitney Portal Road.

This burn will implement one of the many phases of the Whitney Portal Fuels Reduction project, which was developed and approved in 2009. The intent of this project is to restrict potentially large and complex fires by reducing vegetation in predetermined locations. The reduction of the vegetation will act as a “buffer” to areas of value and heavy recreation use, as well as aid in suppression efforts. Reducing heavy and decadent vegetation also aids in wildlife and ecosystem health and rehabilitation by removing aged and crowded vegetation and replacing it with newer, more nutrient rich stems.

The burn is expected to be completed in one day. Smoke will be visible from many locations in the Owens Valley. Prior to burning, much consideration goes into the current and forecasted wind direction to divert much of the smoke from populated communities and recreation sites.

Many resources and burn personnel will be working on the site and traveling in the area. For the safety of the burn personnel, please stay a considerable distance from the burn site.

The attached map provides details on the burning location.

For additional information, please contact the Owens Valley Interagency Communication Center at 760-873-2488 or the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center at 760-876-6222.