Today firefighters on the Plumas National Forest Feather River Ranger District successfully treated approximately 40 acres of pile burning and underburning northeast of Paradise Lake.
Conditions were ideal within the prescription and firefighters are happy with the results.
“Fire effects were excellent, smoke dispersal was good and everything went as planned,” said Feather River District Fire Management Officer James Lico.
Smoke dispersal was good, although it was highly visible in the area, including the Sacramento Valley for most of the day. Cloud cover in the late afternoon and early evening made it significantly less visible.
Firefighters will be patrolling and monitoring the prescribed burn area overnight tonight. Area residents will likely see glow from the prescribed burn tonight.
There is a possibility of short term smoke impacts as smoke settles overnight and early in the morning. This includes the chance for periods of limited visibility on Upper Skyway, Coutolenc Road, Hupp Coutolenc Road, and other nearby roads.
Tomorrow the plan is to treat approximately 10 acres directly across Paradise Lake from this unit, east of Skyway.
“The 10 acres planned tomorrow are complex and we want to make sure we are doing it right,” said Lico. “We have more than 70 firefighters assigned to this prescribed burning operation this week to ensure that is happening, with public and firefighter safety coming first as we work on this critical fuel reduction.”
In addition to the Plumas National Forest, firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service – Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Lassen National Forest, U.S. Forest Service – Mendocino National Forest, U.S. Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest, U.S. Forest Service – Six Rivers National Forest and U.S. Forest Service-Tahoe National Forest, Bureau of Land Management Redding Field Office – Bureau of Land Management – California, CAL FIRE/Butte County and Firestorm Wildland Fire Suppression Inc., are working on the prescribed burning operations for the next several days.
While tomorrow’s unit is only 10 acres, it is expected smoke will be visible from Magalia, Paradise, Chico and the Sacramento Valley.
There will be increased firefighting equipment traffic in the area of both prescribed burn units. Drivers should watch for fire equipment exiting and entering roadways and possible slow traffic in the area for the next several days.
Recreation sites at Paradise Lake should not be impacted other than possible short term smoke. Hikers on the trail should be aware of their surroundings near the prescribed burning operations just above the trail.
“We appreciate the patience, understanding and cooperation of area residents, especially with the increased firefighting equipment traffic around neighborhoods and short term smoke impacts,” Lico said. “There is urgency to get this work done for community protection and the past several weeks have helped us make great progress.”
Sharing some photos and videos from today that include views of firefighters working, fire behavior, fire effects and smoke dispersal.
