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.
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.
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.
“This will be our third week of treatment to help with community protection and forest recovery in the Magalia area in areas that were directly impacted or threatened by the Camp Fire,” said Feather River District Fire Management Officer James Lico. “We are fortunate to have this continued opportunity with conditions within prescription to get this important work done.”
Even though it is in the forest, the planned prescribed burning at Skyway is along a major traffic corridor and is in the wildland-urban interface near homes and neighborhoods.
“Our partners and firefighting resources in the area have had a great prescribed fire season and we are happy to be able to contribute towards the accomplishment to reduce hazardous fuels and help protect the neighborhoods, recreation facilities, lakes, wildlife habitat and watershed from wildfire,” Lico said. “We appreciate everyone’s patience, understanding and cooperation while we conduct these prescribed burning operations with a focus on public and firefighter safety.”
Firefighters are continuing to monitor conditions for opportunities for additional treatment in the area this spring.
For more information on the Plumas National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/plumas or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas.
