Pile burning is a type of prescribed fire where firefighters burn forest slash and debris that has been piled up from mechanical or hand-thinning projects to reduce an area's wildfire risk.
Smoke may be visible from Sierraville, Calpine, Sattley and surrounding areas. N/NW winds may transport drift smoke towards Sattley and Sierraville. Significant air quality concerns and longer duration smoke impacts are not expected. 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 communities.
Sattley-Calpine Project
Sierraville Ranger District
Legal Location: T 21N R 14E Section 30
Acres: 6
Ignition Dates: Nov. 15, conditions permitting
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.
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