BLM Plans Prescribed Burns in Lassen County to Reduce Wildfire Risk

SUSANVILLE, Calif. - To reduce the risk of wildfire and help protect communities, the Bureau of Land Management, in coordination with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, plans to conduct multiple prescribed fire operations on BLM-managed public lands in Lassen County starting as early as Oct.1.

"The prescribed burns planned for this project will improve wildlife habitat and livestock grazing conditions, help protect communities within the wildland-urban interface where homes border public lands, and strengthen firefighter safety and effectiveness in the event of a wildfire," said Emily Ryan, manager of the BLM Eagle Lake Field Office.

Understory broadcast burning will occur north of Eagle Lake during the fall and spring at Bald Hills and Heavey Mountain, as weather and conditions allow. These prescribed fire treatments are designed to safely reduce surface fuels. Smoke may be visible to residents in and near the California communities of Stones Landing and Spaulding, as well as to motorists driving along State Route 139, County Route A-1 (Eagle Lake Road), and Termo Grasshopper Road.

Prescribed pile burns will occur throughout the fall, winter, and spring when adequate moisture is present. The hand piles scheduled for burning are in North Horse Mountain, near Ravendale, California, and were created during hazardous fuel reduction and sage-steppe restoration projects through the removal of juniper trees. Smoke may be visible to residents in and near the Horse Lake and Ravendale areas, as well as to motorists driving along Highway 395 and Horse Lake Road.

By managing fuel loads through prescribed fire, the BLM can proactively help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and their impacts on communities, recreation opportunities, and natural and cultural resources. Contact the BLM Eagle Lake Field Office at 530-257-0456 for more information.