Inyo National Forest North District Prescribed Fires Planned

Bishop, Calif., January 28, 2014 – Weather and air quality conditions permitting, the Inyo National Forest is planning to complete several prescribed fire projects in the upcoming weeks. Work could start as early as January 30th and crews will use favorable prescription opportunities to complete the burn.

The Aqueduct Prescribed Fire is located 4 miles east of Highway 395 near Bald Mountain, is 120 acres, and expected to last one or two days. This project is being completed in the Jeffery Pine fuel type to reduce fuel and improve ecosystem resilience.

The Crystal Crag piles project is 52 acres and is located in the Lakes Basin near Twin Lakes. Fire crews thinned and piled fuels in the mixed connifer forest to reduce the wildland fire hazard. This thinning removes ladder fuels that can cary fire from the forest floor to the canopy and helps firefighters have a safer response.

Smoke from these projects will be visible from Hwy 395 from Mammoth to Lee Vining and Mammoth Mountain. Morning inversion patterns may hold smoke in June Lake and Crowley Lake. Residents who are smoke sensitive should avoid physical exertion when smoke is present.

Two projects are also planned near June Lake. Approximately 50 acres of piles will be burned between the Fern Lake Trailhead and the Double Eagle Resort and Spa another 90 acres is planned on the northeast side of Reversed Peak near Grant Lake. The projects will last for several weeks and will begin as soon as more snow arrives to the project areas.

Smoke may be visible from highways 158 and 395 as well as the community of June Lake and surrounding areas.

The Inyo National Forest works closely with the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District to select days that will provide good smoke dispersal.