Stanislaus National Forest plans prescribed underburn for resource and public benefit in Summit Ranger District

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

Prescribed Fire Name / Ranger District: Experimental Forest Underburn, Summit Ranger District

General and Specific Location: The Experimental Forest is located approximately ½ mile South of Pinecrest, along Forest Road 4N10, adjacent to Crabtree Road. Township 4N, Range 18E, Section 27. Smoke may be visible from the Highway 108 corridor and 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. 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 late May 2019, and continue through June as long as conditions allow. Burning is contingent on weather, fuel moisture, and air quality. 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: A total of 24 acres are to be treated with low-intensity fire. Approximately 9-24 acres will be ignited daily, based on environmental conditions and smoke production.

Type of Prescribed Burn: Low intensity 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.

Resource Benefits: Prescribed low-intensity fires enhance wildlife habitat, protect and maintain water quality and soil productivity, improve forest ecosystem health, and reduce the threat of uncontrolled conflagrations. The Sierra Nevada is a fire dependent ecosystem, in which fire is a critical part of the natural forest process and helps to maintain resilient forests.

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. Fire managers are working closely with local air districts and the California Air Resources Board to mitigate the effects of smoke on the public.