BLAIRSDEN, CA — Plumas National Forest firefighters are planning pile burning this week near Graeagle on the Beckwourth Ranger District, conditions permitting.
Firefighters are planning to start ignitions tomorrow, with an initial goal of approximately 20 acres. If conditions remain favorable and within prescription, the intent is to treat an additional 18 acres, for a total of 38 acres this week.
More seasonable weather is improving conditions for pile burning across the forest this week, although snow continues to limit access.
Firefighters from Firestorm and the Mount Hough Ranger District will be providing support to the Beckwourth Ranger District’s pile burning this week, including patrol through the weekend.
Smoke is expected to be visible but not have significant long-term impacts to nearby communities, including Graeagle and Blairsden. Short duration, minor smoke impacts are possible along California State Highways 70 and 89, Gold Lake Highway 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. Drivers in the area should use caution.
“We have been monitoring conditions for quite some time, waiting for this area to be within prescription and accessible for us to work on pile burning,” said Beckwourth District Fire Management Officer Don Fregulia. “Every community and fuel reduction project on the Plumas National Forest is important, but it’s taken a while for this area to be ready for us to treat it safely. Our firefighters and community are looking forward to this window to hopefully get some critical work done on the landscape.”
If weather conditions become unfavorable, including increased or gusty winds in the area, burning will stop until conditions improve. Firefighters will be monitoring conditions and the burning piles until fires are out.
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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