Prepare to see smoke; pile burns continue across the Plumas National Forest. Fire crews will be burning in the Beckwourth and Feather River Ranger Districts, with firefighters adding an additional 30 acres on Gold Lake Highway near Graeagle. Firefighters will also attempt to treat around 50 acres of large machine piles above Sly Creek Reservoir. Ignitions on both projects are expected to start today and could continue Friday.
Firefighters from Firestorm and the Mount Hough Ranger District will continue to support the Beckwourth Ranger District and Feather River Ranger District, including patrolling through the weekend.
You will see smoke in the project areas, but it is not expected to have significant long-term impacts on Graeagle, Blairsden, Feather Falls, and Sly Creek Reservoir.
There may be brief periods of smoke along Highway 70 and 89 and on Gold Lake Highway. Your visibility on roads in the project areas may be reduced, especially early in the morning and late evening as the smoke settles. Use caution while driving through the area.
Deputy Forest Fire Management Officer Marty Senter says conditions are prime for pile burns this week and looks forward to continued progress on fuel reductions across the forest.
If weather conditions become unfavorable, including increased or gusty winds in the area, burning will stop until conditions improve. Firefighters will monitor conditions and the burning piles until the fires are out.
Photo: Plumas National Forest Butterfly Valley Pile Burns
