BLM plans prescribed burns in NE California, NW Nevada, to prevent wildfire risk

ALTURAS, Calif. - Fire crews from the Bureau of Land Management Applegate Field Office will conduct prescribed burns to reduce hazardous fuels near the community of Cassel in Shasta County, starting as early as October 1. The carefully managed broadcast burns will be conducted on 120 acres of BLM-managed public lands west of the Cassel community and will be implemented when weather and fire activity permits. Smoke may be visible throughout the Burney Basin, and to motorists on State Routes 299 and 89.

"The prescribed burns will help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire associated with high fuel loading in the Wildland Urban Interface, which is the area where homes are close to public wildlands and will improve firefighter safety and effectiveness in the event of wildfire," said Dereck Wilson, manager of the BLM Northern California District. "These burns will also help prevent wildfire damages to natural resources and communities."

Additionally, prescribed pile burns will be implemented through late fall, winter and spring, when adequate moisture is present. These projects will occur within Modoc County, northern Washoe County, northeastern Lassen County and northeastern Shasta County. Smoke may be visible to the residents in and near the California communities of Madeline, Likely, Alturas, Fort Bidwell, Cedarville, Fall River Mills and by people traveling in the Vya area of northwest Nevada. The pile burns will reduce hazardous fuels and contribute to healthy and resilient sage-steppe landscapes.

• Prescribed pile burn locations and details are as follows:
• Hogback, 4 miles south of Fall River Mills, CA - 220 acres of piled brush.
• Vya projects, 20 miles northeast of Fort Bidwell, CA - 900 acres of piled juniper
• Bull Creek, 10 miles southeast of Cedarville, CA - 1,500 acres of piled juniper
• Rygrass Swale and South Graves, 10 miles south of Alturas, CA - 475 acres of piled juniper
• Dry Cow, 5 miles east of Madeline, CA - 280 acres of piled juniper
• Harter Spring, 6 miles northwest of Madeline, CA - 200 acres of piled juniper
• Duck Flat and Tuledad, 20 miles south of Eagleville, Calif - 700 acres of piled juniper
• Stoney Breaker, 5 miles east of Bieber, Calif - 80 acres of piled 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.