LAKE COUNTY ?Fire crews will set prescribed burns to clear the forest floor during specific conditions, possibly starting in October through December in the Mendocino National Forest, according to the forest service.
Community members may notice smoke during the next few months in the forest, the forest service reported.
“Prescribed burning is and important tool for the forest to use for hazardous fuels reduction and forest health improvement, including wildlife habitat,” Matt Ellis, Grindstone fuels officer, said. “The fires are intended to be slow, low-intensity creeping fires on the forest floor. Although there are only a few opportunities for prescribed burns, they produce less smoke and there aren”t the resource impacts typically created by large wildfires.” Crews conduct prescribed burns during specific temperature, wind, air quality, humidity and fuel moisture levels, the forest service reported. The burns are meant to protect communities and natural resources from wildfires.
Forest service and fire crews patrol burning operations to ensure safety, according to the forest service. The prescribed burn season generally runs from October through Dec. 31 as weather permits, the forest service reported. Crews plan to conduct prescribed burns in the Elk Mountain Road area, Howard Mill, Deer Valley, Boardman Ridge, High Valley, Horse Mountain, Tar Flat, Howard Lake, Pine Mountain, Lake Pillsbury and Buckhorn and Skidmore ridge. The Grindstone Ranger District will conduct burns in Alder Springs, Oak Ridge and Little Stony. The Grindstone district plans to prescribe burn on about 2,500 acres. The forest service reported it will do pile burning in some campgrounds and guard stations. Ranger stations will post burn announcement before ignition.
For information, contact the Mendocino National Grindstone Ranger District at 934-3316, the Upper Lake Ranger District at 275-2361 or visit fs.fed/us/r5/mendocino.
