Eldorado National Forest to start fall prescribed burning program

The Forest Service will begin its fall prescribed burn program in the Eldorado National Forest as soon as weather conditions are right. Approximately 5,800 acres of National Forest land are slated to be burned this fall, winter and spring.
According to Deputy Fire Management Officer Steve Parr prescribed fires are an important way to maintain forest health and to reduce fuels that could feed future wildfires.

“Prescribed fires are ignited only when both weather and fuel conditions exist that will ensure low to moderate burning rates and firefighting resources are available to keep fires within fire lines,” said Parr.

The prescribed burns that are planned at this time will occur in the following Eldorado National Forest locations over the fall, winter and spring:

• Amador Ranger District: Lost Horse Prescribed Burn — 1,200 acres located on the north side of Hwy 88 near Foster Meadow and Horse Canyon and south of the Cosumnes River. This burn project is scheduled for October. Amador District Pile Burn — approximately 400 acres of pile burning is scheduled to occur throughout the Amador Ranger District. For more information contact 209-295-4251.

• Placerville Ranger District: Iron Trap Prescribed Understory Burn — 719 acres located near the intersection of Mormon Emigrant Trail and Silver Fork Road. This burn project is scheduled for October. Marshall Mine Understory Burn — approximately 800 acres located in the area of Flemming Meadows, USFS Sly Park Fire stations and Happy Valley. Last Chance Prescribed Burn — 143 acres south of Grizzly Flat and east of Leoni Meadows in the area of
Steely Fork Cosumnes River and Caldor Road. Placerville District Pile Burn — approximately 400 acres of pile burning is scheduled in the areas of Baltic Ridge, Bonetti Road, Alder Creek Road and Silver Fork Road. For more information contact 530-644-2324.

• The Pacific Ranger District: Peavine Research Natural Area (RNA) Prescribed Burn — 800 acres located on the north side of the American River one mile north of Pollock Pines. Pacific District Pile Burn — approximately 849 acres of pile burning, most of it occurring in the areas north of Peavine Ridge Road (11N63) and east of Icehouse Reservoir. Smaller pile burning projects are scattered throughout the district. For more information contact 530-644-2349.

• Georgetown Ranger District: Hartless Pile Burn — 226 acres located on Wentworth Springs Road near Stumpy Meadows Reservoir. Hey Joe Pile Burn — 167 acres located near the community of Volcanoville. Smarty Jones Pile Burn — 168 acres east of Slab Creek Reservoir in the area of Poho Ridge. For more information contact 530-333-4312.

Parr said prescribed fires and pile burning are intended to reduce the amount of vegetation, such as needles, small plants, brush, and small trees, which can carry fire from the forest floor into the treetops. Studies and experience have shown that prescribed fires will stimulate the growth of grasses, forbs and shrubs that provide food for deer, mountain quail and other wildlife.

“We are sensitive to the fact that smoke has an impact on people, particularly those with respiratory conditions and allergies,” said Parr. “Every effort is made to ignite prescribed fires when weather patterns will carry smoke away from populated areas.”

The Forest Service must comply and coordinate with state and local county air pollution control districts. Smoke may continue for days after actual ignition because of the large scale of these projects. The Forest Service recommends that people living in or near the forest contact the nearest ranger station if they have respiratory illness or think the smoke might adversely affect them. These people will be placed on a “Sensitive Persons List” and will be notified of impending prescribed burning projects. For any additional information please call Steve Parr at 530-621-5237, or e-mail at sparr@fs.fed.us.

Please visit our Website at fs.usda.gov/eldorado for more project information and maps of the burn projects.