Lassen National Forest plans prescribed burns

Type of Work:
For this prescribed burn season, the Lassen National Forest intends to conduct understory burns and pile burns. With understory burning, crews apply fire broadly throughout an area under the forest canopy. Grasses, leaf litter, fallen and dried pine needles, downed branches, brush and occasional single or clusters of trees may be burned. With pile burning, thinning crews assemble branches and other woody debris into piles to treat with fire. Both reduce fuel loads on the landscape.

Prescribed burns are planned for the following areas (see map below for targeted understory burn areas):

Almanor Ranger District

• Various pile burns totaling approximately 2,500 acres across the district

Eagle Lake Ranger District

• Bailey Underburn: 1,760 acres near Campbell Mountain
• Drake Underburn: 971 acres northwest of Cal Mountain
• Various pile burns totaling approximately 520 acres across the district

Hat Creek Ranger District

• Eastside Underburn: 1,030 acres located near Blacks Ridge and Halls Flat
• North 49 Burn Plan: 530 acres located near Eskimo Hill
• Various pile burns totaling approximately 1,300 acres across the district

Burn dates and actual number of units treated will depend on weather and fuel conditions. Wind and relative humidity are key factors in fire behavior, safety, and smoke control. Prescribed burning will only occur when environmental conditions permit.

Closures or Safety Notes:
During the burns, proper personnel and equipment will be on site and some roads and trails may be closed to ensure safety. Before burning, the Forest will post any closure or safety notices on the Lassen National Forest alerts page and on Facebook. Visitors should remain alert if traveling through areas with prescribed burns as there may be workers and heavy equipment present near roadways.

Smoke Information:
While smoke may be visible, the Forest Service works closely with air quality specialists and closely monitors smoke during prescribed fires. Prescribed fires are timed for best smoke management. Visit fire.airnow.gov for current air quality information. If smoke is present on roadways, drivers should slow down and turn on headlights.

Prescribed fires will be signed. Please do not report smoke from these prescribed fires, as firefighters will remain on scene throughout ignitions and patrol afterwards.

Stay Informed:
For prescribed fire updates, visit:

• Forest website: fs.usda.gov/r05/lassen
• Social media: facebook.com/LassenNF

About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation for more than 100 years. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and recreation opportunities. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, supports the nation’s forest industry and energy needs, and operates the largest and most respected wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. By providing assistance to state and private landowners and working with tribes and other partners, the Forest Service also helps steward an additional 900 million forested acres within the U.S