QUINCY, CA — Firefighters on the Plumas National Forest Feather River Ranger District are planning to conduct prescribed burning operations on approximately 34 acres on the Concow Resiliency Project in the Concow Basin tomorrow, conditions permitting.
Prescribed burning operations will be near Rim Road, with ignitions expected to start in the morning and be completed before the end of the day. Firefighting resources from the Lassen National Forest will be a part of the prescribed burning operations, as well as contract firefighting resources and the Butte County Resource Conservation District.
The project is within the Camp Fire burn area and the prescribed burning is helping with fuel reduction and restoration of oak woodland with a grass understory.
Smoke is expected to be visible but not have significant long-term impacts to nearby communities, including Concow, Yankee Hill and Pulga. Smoke will be visible from California State Highway 70, Paradise Ridge and the Valley.
Short duration, minor smoke impacts may occur in the area near Rim Road, Concow and neighboring forest roads. Visibility on roads in the project area may be reduced, especially early in the morning and late evening as smoke settles.
There will also be increased firefighting equipment traffic in the area. Drivers should use caution, watch for fire equipment exiting and entering area roadways, and possible slow traffic.
If weather conditions become unfavorable, including increased or gusty winds in the area, burning will stop until conditions improve. Firefighters will be monitoring conditions throughout the operation and will patrol the area for the next several days.
Pile burning operations on the Beckwourth and Mount Hough Ranger Districts were expected to resume this week following the Thanksgiving holiday. Due to weather conditions and air quality concerns, planned pile burning is on hold on both Ranger Districts until conditions are more favorable for smoke dispersion in the mountains.
All three Ranger Districts had great success pile burning in November. Beckwourth Ranger District accomplishing approximately 600 acres of pile burning in Lakes Basin. Mount Hough Ranger District successfully treated piles at multiple sites at Bucks Lake, Antelope Lake and near Quincy. Feather River Ranger District successfully burned 43 acres of large machine piles near Brush Creek.
For more information on the Plumas National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/plumas or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas.
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