Firefighters on the Plumas National Forest Feather River Ranger District are planning to treat approximately 54 acres of piles in the Magalia area on January 21st, conditions permitting.
Approximately 52 acres of pile burning is planned on the north side of Paradise Lake in the area near Green Ridge Place and Brezo Way. The piles are a combination of large machine and smaller hand piles. An additional two acres of French broom piles are planned for burning on National Forest System lands off Coutolenc Road near the Skyway. Ignitions are expected to start around 10 a.m. and be completed in one day.
These operations are part of ongoing fuel reduction in areas affected or threatened by the 2018 Camp Fire and to help with community protection for Magalia, Paradise and the surrounding area. It is part of an essential fuel break for community protection from wildfire.
The Butte County Fire Safe Council coordinated fuel reduction and construction of the machine and hand piles near Paradise Lake over the summer. The piles are composed of beetle-killed trees and small diameter ladder fuels. Treatment and removal of these hazardous fuels is urgent ahead of the 2026 fire season.
The planned prescribed burning at Paradise Lake is also in the wildland-urban interface near a popular recreation area, homes and neighborhoods.
Smoke is expected to be visible from Magalia, Paradise, Chico and the Sacramento Valley, but is not expected to have significant long-term impacts to nearby communities.
Short duration, minor smoke impacts are expected in Paradise Lake and nearby neighborhoods in Magalia, as well as Skyway, Hupp Coutolenc Road and along neighboring forest roads. Visibility on roads in the project area may be reduced, especially early in the morning and late evening as smoke settles.
Firefighters will make efforts to reduce smoke impacts to nearby communities. Area residents and visitors sensitive to smoke may want to be prepared for potential smoke impacts and take measures to reduce exposure.
There will be increased firefighting equipment traffic in the area. Drivers should watch for fire equipment exiting and entering roadways and possible slow traffic in the area for the next several days.
If weather conditions become unfavorable, including increased or gusty winds in the area, burning will stop until conditions improve. Firefighters will be monitoring conditions throughout the entire operation.
For more information on the Plumas National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/plumas or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas.
