Stanislaus National Forest plans prescribed underburn for resource and public benefit on Groveland Ranger District

SONORA, Calif. — The Stanislaus National Forest provides the following information about planned prescribed underburns on the forest.

Prescribed Fire Name: Ranger District China Ridge Understory Burn, Groveland Ranger District

General and Specific Location: Located adjacent to the Groveland Ranger District office and following China Ridge south to Greeley Hill Road, approximately four miles NE of Greeley Hill. Most of the underburn is adjacent to forest roads 1S15, 1S16 and 1S29, at specific geographic location [sections 27, 33, 34, range 17E, township 1S; sections 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 23, 24 range 17E, township 2S]. Smoke may be visible from Smith Station Road, and Highway 120 with some down canyon drift smoke visible in the evening and early morning. This project is a planned prescribed fire. Please do not report as a wildland fire.

Projected Duration: Ignition of the prescribed burn is expected to begin in April 2019, and is contingent on weather, fuel moisture, and air quality. Ignitions could continue daily or as conditions allow. All burning is monitored and conducted in accordance with state and county air quality guidelines and closely coordinated with local county air quality control districts.

Planned Size of Prescribed Burn: Up to 1,905 acres are to be treated with low-intensity fire during the next five years, with daily ignitions planned to be approximately 50 acres. Size of the burn may vary with weather and fuel moisture conditions, as well as permissible air quality burn days.

Type of Prescribed Burn: Broadcast underburn

Burn Project Objectives: The goal of this prescribed burn is to enhance public and firefighter safety by reducing the build-up of dead and down fuels and to reduce the threat of high-intensity wildfire while protecting watershed values and wildlife habitat by creating a mosaic pattern of vegetation.

Public Benefits: Prescribed burning is an effective, cost efficient method of reducing flammable forest fuels, improving firefighting capabilities, and reducing the impacts of large uncontrolled damaging wildland fires. Smoke may be visible from Highway 108 and in surrounding communities. Fire managers are working closely with local air districts and the California Air Resources Board to mitigate the effects of smoke on the public.