QUINCY, CA — Firefighters on the Plumas National Forest Beckwourth and Mount Hough Ranger Districts plan to conduct pile burning operations starting this morning and continuing through this week, conditions permitting.
On the Beckwourth Ranger District, plans are to treat approximately 18 acres of piles in Lakes Basin near Gold Lake.
The piles are located in and around the Gold Lake recreation site, including by the Gold Lake Boat Launch, in the campground and along the lakeshore. This will help improve conditions within the recreation site.
Ignitions are planned to start later this morning and should be complete before the end of today.
On the Mount Hough Ranger District, firefighters will be working on pile burning at four locations. Approximately 10 acres of piles near the Boulder Creek Work Center at Antelope Lake are planned for treatment with ignitions starting this morning and continuing tomorrow if needed.
At Bucks Lake, treatment includes approximately one acre of piles within Grizzly Forebay Campground, approximately one acre at the Bucks Lake Quarry Administrative Pile, and approximately 15 acres of piles located between Hutchins Group Camp and Sandy Point.
The 15-acre area of piles are from hazard tree removal completed under the Dixie Fire Integrated Resource Service Contract. Ignitions are expected to start this morning and may continue through the end of the week.
All of the sites with planned pile burning today have received precipitation recently, including snow from the storm yesterday.
Smoke is expected to be visible in the area but not have significant long-term impacts to nearby communities, including Graeagle, Blairsden, Clio, Portola, Genesee Valley, Taylorsville, Bucks Lake, Meadow Valley and Quincy.
Short duration, minor smoke impacts are possible on neighboring forest roads, Gold Lake Highway, Antelope Lake Road and Bucklin Road near Bucks Lake. Visibility on roads in the project area may be reduced, especially early in the morning and late evening as smoke settles.
There will be increased firefighting equipment traffic in these areas. Drivers in the area should use caution, watch for fire equipment exiting and entering area roadways, and possible slow traffic.
The recreation sites have been winterized and closed for the season. However, gates remain open at sites at Bucks Lake, including Sandy Point, Lower Bucks and Grizzly Creek and Gold Lake remains accessible. Anyone recreating in these areas is encouraged to use caution.
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 operations.
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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