The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced plans for prescribed fire projects in northeast California and northwest Nevada this fall and winter, with fire crews from both the Eagle Lake and Applegate Field Offices taking part. These controlled burns are aimed at reducing hazardous fuel loads and preventing wildfires, while also improving wildlife habitats and livestock grazing conditions.
Starting on Tuesday, October 22, crews in Lassen County will begin conducting burns north of Eagle Lake, with work continuing through the end of November. The Bald Understory Project, located near Cleghorn Road, will be the first focus, involving around 500 acres of public land. This includes a broadcast burn of 150 to 300 acres just west of the Grasshopper area along State Route 139. According to Emily Ryan, the manager of the Eagle Lake Field Office, “These burns will help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and improve firefighter safety and effectiveness in the event of a wildfire.” Smoke from these burns will be visible from Eagle Lake and may be noticeable to motorists along both Route 139 and U.S. Highway 395.
Meanwhile, the BLM’s Applegate Field Office will be conducting similar burns across a broader area, stretching into northwest Nevada. These burns, starting as early as mid-October, will include burning piles of brush and limbs from past fuels reduction projects, as well as larger-scale broadcast burns. Craig Drake, manager of the Applegate Field Office, emphasized that the burns are designed to improve habitat and protect communities in the Wildland Urban Interface, where homes are located near public lands.
Some of the key areas for these burns include a 490-acre project in the Hogback area near Fall River Mills and a 150-acre burn near Cassel. In Nevada, a small, four-acre burn east of Fort Bidwell is part of research efforts. The pile burns will take place in several other locations, such as Modoc Gulch, Vya, and Twin Lakes, where piled juniper will be burned across hundreds of acres.
Both BLM offices will conduct these prescribed burns in accordance with strict burn plans, ensuring that weather and fuel conditions are optimal for safe operations. These efforts not only aim to reduce wildfire risk but also contribute to creating safer access routes for firefighters and protect vital resources.
For more information, the BLM Applegate Field Office can be contacted at 530-233-4666.
