Prescribed burn operations abruptly stopped on the Feather River Ranger District when unexpected winds disrupted the process and caused smoke to impact the communities of Butterfly Valley and La Porte. However, amidst these challenges, the Forest Service managed to successfully complete burn operations on approximately 40 acres in the Grass Flat area near Little Grass Valley Reservoir and another 70 acres in the Butterfly Valley vicinity within the Mount Hough Ranger District.
Unfortunately, the unanticipated winds also led to smoke settling in areas like Quincy, Meadow Valley, Greenhorn, La Porte, and the nearby canyon. To mitigate widespread smoke impacts today, firefighters on the Mount Hough Ranger District will assess the area’s prevailing smoke conditions and decide whether to proceed with the planned ignitions on 40 acres in Butterfly Valley or temporarily suspend them.
Meanwhile, on the Feather River Ranger District, firefighters intend to continue with ignitions for the La Porte RX – Grass Flat prescribed burn, as long as conditions permit.
Due to challenges related to weather forecasts and unpredictable wind patterns experienced over the weekend at the Big Hill Project, firefighters on the Beckwourth Ranger District have decided not to plan any further ignitions for at least the next few days.
Photos of prescribed burning in Butterfly Valley
