Starting Nov. 20, 2024, Tahoe National Forest will begin a prescribed pile burn near the Secret Meadows/Independence Lake area. Fire and fuels personnel plan to begin ignitions on up to 290 acres Nov. 20 through Nov. 21, conditions permitting.
Smoke may be visible from the Highway 89 corridor between Little Truckee Summit and Sagehen Summit. Transport winds may push smoke towards Little Truckee Summit. Local communities are not expected to experience significant excessive air quality concerns or longer duration smoke impacts. Smoke may settle overnight but is projected to clear during the day. Smoke will be carefully monitored and efforts will be taken to reduce impacts to the Highway 89 corridor.
Independence Pile Burn Project
Sierraville Ranger District
Acres: Up to 290 possible
Ignition Dates: Nov. 20-21, conditions permitting
Legal Location: Unit 9 (82acs) 19N 15E Sec 26
Unit 7 (142acs) 19N 15E Sec 23, 24 & 25
Unit 7A (36acs) 19N 15E Sec 25 & 26
Unit 2 (30acs) 19N 15E Sec13 & 19N 16E Sec 18
Why Are We Burning?
The goal of this prescribed burn is to decrease the existing fire hazard and to prevent and reduce the impact of future fires in the area. Other benefits include enhancing wildlife habitat and reintroducing fire into a fire-adapted ecosystem.
Why Now?
Current conditions allow for prescribed burning. Each prescribed fire operation follows a prescribed fire burn plan, which considers temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation, and conditions for the dispersal of smoke. This information is used to decide when and where to burn. The Tahoe National Forest strives to give as much advance notice as possible before burning, but some operations may be conducted on short notice.
Smoke
Smoke from prescribed fire operations is normal and may continue for several days after an ignition depending on the project size and environmental conditions. Smoke may settle into the valleys in the evening and lift in the morning. The Tahoe National Forest coordinates with state and local county air pollution control districts and monitors weather conditions closely prior to prescribed fire ignition. Crews also conduct test burns before igniting a larger area, to verify how effectively fuels are consumed and how smoke will travel.
Smoke may be visible from the Highway 89 corridor between Little Truckee Summit and Sagehen Summit. Transport winds may push smoke towards Little Truckee Summit. Local communities are not expected to experience significant excessive air quality concerns or longer duration smoke impacts. Smoke may settle overnight but is projected to clear during the day. Smoke will be carefully monitored and efforts will be taken to reduce impacts to the Highway 89 corridor.
Independence Pile Burn Project
Sierraville Ranger District
Acres: Up to 290 possible
Ignition Dates: Nov. 20-21, conditions permitting
Legal Location: Unit 9 (82acs) 19N 15E Sec 26
Unit 7 (142acs) 19N 15E Sec 23, 24 & 25
Unit 7A (36acs) 19N 15E Sec 25 & 26
Unit 2 (30acs) 19N 15E Sec13 & 19N 16E Sec 18
Why Are We Burning?
The goal of this prescribed burn is to decrease the existing fire hazard and to prevent and reduce the impact of future fires in the area. Other benefits include enhancing wildlife habitat and reintroducing fire into a fire-adapted ecosystem.
Why Now?
Current conditions allow for prescribed burning. Each prescribed fire operation follows a prescribed fire burn plan, which considers temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation, and conditions for the dispersal of smoke. This information is used to decide when and where to burn. The Tahoe National Forest strives to give as much advance notice as possible before burning, but some operations may be conducted on short notice.
Smoke
Smoke from prescribed fire operations is normal and may continue for several days after an ignition depending on the project size and environmental conditions. Smoke may settle into the valleys in the evening and lift in the morning. The Tahoe National Forest coordinates with state and local county air pollution control districts and monitors weather conditions closely prior to prescribed fire ignition. Crews also conduct test burns before igniting a larger area, to verify how effectively fuels are consumed and how smoke will travel.