On Wednesday, September 17th, CAL FIRE Lassen Modoc Unit conducted a prescribed burn in the Ditch Camp area near Bieber, CA. A total of 283 acres were successfully treated to reduce excess vegetation and noxious weeds, while also improving habitat for wildlife.
Prescribed burns play an important role in reducing dry vegetation and dead wood on the landscape, which helps minimize the potential for large, destructive wildfires. They are also a natural part of many California ecosystems, restoring natural processes that promote biodiversity and support healthy habitats.
On this burn, we were also able to utilize an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), also known as a drone, to help put fire on the ground in the middle of the burn area. The UAS is equipped with a Plastic Sphere Dispenser (PSD) that drops small ignition spheres—nicknamed “dragon eggs.” Once dispensed, the chemicals inside these spheres mix to create the same effect as holding a lighter to the forest floor, allowing for precise and efficient ignition.
This burn is part of a multi-year project designed to address specific management needs by treating different portions of the project area over time. Conducting prescribed burns takes a coordinated effort to gather resources and personnel, and CAL FIRE works diligently to keep fire within planned boundaries while efficiently treating the designated areas.
