ALTURAS, Calif. – Fire crews from the Bureau of Land Management Applegate Field Office will conduct prescribed burns in various northeast California and northwest Nevada locations during the fall and winter months. Projects are designed to improve habitat conditions and reduce wildfire risk. They include burning piles of brush and limbs created in fuels reduction projects, and broadcast burns on larger landscapes.

Burning could get underway in mid October and will continue into winter months when fuel and weather conditions allow for safe and successful burning.

“The prescribed burns will help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire associated with high fuel loading in the Wildland Urban Interface, will improve firefighter safety and effectiveness in the event of a wildfire,” said Craig Drake, manager of the BLM Applegate Field Office in Alturas.  “These burns will also help prevent wildfire damages to natural resources and communities.”

Broadcast burns, which are carefully managed fires across larger areas, include a 490-acre project in the Hogback area near Fall River Mills, a 150-acre project near the community of Cassel, and a four-acre research-related burn in Washoe County, Nevada, east of Fort Bidwell.

Prescribed pile burn locations and details are as follows:

• Modoc Gulch, 4 miles southeast of Dorris, California, piled juniper in a 200-acre project area;
• Vya projects, 20 miles northeast of Fort Bidwell, California, piled juniper in a 1,600-acre area;
• Twin Lakes, 18 miles southeast of Cedarville, California, 700-acre project area of piled juniper;
• Ryegrass Swale, 9 miles south of Alturas, California, 100 acres of piled juniper;
• Nelson Corral, 6 miles northwest of Madeline, California, 50 acres of piled juniper;
• Duck Flat and Tuledad, 20 miles south of Eagleville, California, 2,000 acres of piled juniper;
• Bull Creek, 10 miles east of Cedarville, California, 900 acres of piled juniper;
• Stone Breaker, 5 miles east of Bieber, California, 100 acres of piled juniper; and
• Mt Dome, 12 miles southeast of Dorris, California, 70 acres of piled brush and juniper.

The BLM’s fuels management program conducts a wide variety of management vegetation treatments using mechanical, biological, and chemical tools, prescribed grazing, and prescribed fire. The program includes creating fuel breaks to protect resources and provide safe access for firefighters, and reducing fuel loads by removing trees, shrubs, juniper and invasive species. Projects are also designed to reduce wildfire risk near communities and infrastructure.

Crews conduct prescribed fires in accordance with burn plans that specify allowable weather and fuel conditions, and the personnel and equipment required.

More information is available by contacting the BLM Applegate Field Office at 530-233-4666.

SUSANVILLE, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management is issuing fire restrictions for northeast California public lands managed by the Applegate and Eagle Lake field offices in Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Sierra, Siskiyou and Shasta counties in California and Washoe County, Nevada beginning Monday, July 15.  These seasonal restrictions listed in the fire order will be in place to help prevent wildfire and will remain in effect until further notice. These restrictions are in addition to the BLM year-round statewide fire prevention order.

“Recognizing that most wildfires in California are human-caused and occur in close proximity to roadways, communities and recreational areas, these fire restrictions are an important way that we can help protect public lands and nearby communities from wildfire,” said Andrew Johnson, acting assistant field manager in the Eagle Lake Field Office, Susanville.

The fire restrictions prohibit campfires and barbecues, except within established campfire rings and barbecue grills in designated recreation sites.  Portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel may be used outside of developed recreation sites. In areas within California, users must have a valid California Campfire Permit, available online or at any BLM, Forest Service or CAL FIRE office.

Other fire restrictions include:

• No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, or at a designated, developed recreation site, or other designated areas.
• No motor vehicles or internal combustion engines may be used off established roads or trails. Chainsaws with functioning spark arresters can be used for personal firewood cutting until 1 p.m. daily.
• It is illegal year-round to possess or discharge fireworks including “safe and sane” devices on public lands.
• No target shooting with incendiary, tracer, steel core or armor-piercing ammunition, or using exploding targets.

Anyone found guilty of violating a fire prevention order may be fined not more than $100,000 and/or face imprisonment for not more than 12 months. Restitution for total fire suppression and damage costs may be borne by the trespasser.

Help prevent fires

Residents and visitors are reminded to help prevent human-caused fires.

• Make sure all campfires are dead out. Drown the fire ashes and stir around the fire area with a shovel to wet any remaining embers and ash. If it’s not cool, it is not out.
• Be sure to maintain proper tire pressure for all vehicles, ensure adequate tire tread, and check brakes for overheating. Do not drive or park on brush or grass. Do not drag chains while towing.
• Off road motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and chainsaws require an approved spark arrestor.

More information about preventing wildland fires is available online. A listing of fire restrictions throughout BLM California public lands is available on the fire restriction website. Fire weather forecasts are available through the National Weather Service. For more information, telephone the Arcata Field Office, 707-825-2300.