Prescribed burning planned starting tomorrow, conditions permitting, on both sides of Skyway between Hupp Coutelenc Road and Casierra Drive, with ignitions possible through Thursday. Please use caution is driving in the area or use an alternate route.
Firefighters on the Plumas National Forest Feather River Ranger District plan to start prescribed burning operations tomorrow, Wednesday, April 23, along Skyway near Magalia, conditions permitting.
Approximately 65 acres of pile burning and underburning is planned in the area located north of Magalia along the Skyway between Hupp Coutolenc Road and Casierra Drive. The unit is north of Paradise Lake on the Plumas National Forest between the communities of Magalia and Lovelock.
Prescribed burning will be on both sides of approximately 1 mile of Skyway, as well as two sections of Hupp Coutelenc Road south of Skyway. Ignitions are expected to start around 10 a.m. and may continue through Thursday.
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 Magalia, Sterling City, and Lake De Sabla as well as Skyway, Hupp Coutolenc Road, Casierra Drive 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. This includes planning to stop ignitions earlier in the day and monitoring weather conditions.
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. It is recommended to use caution in the area on Skway, Hupp Coutelenc Road and Casierra Drive during the prescribed burning operation.
At times firefighters will be working on ignitions along the road and temporary traffic controls will be in place as needed. Drivers should watch for fire equipment exiting and entering roadways and possible slow traffic in the area for the next several days.
The area being treated is an unburned area of the Plumas National Forest threatened by the 2018 Camp Fire. It is part of an essential fuel break. The pile burning and underburning occurring is part of critical fuel reduction work to protect area communities and residents, reducing the risk of wildfire.
