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Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest to Start Pile Burning on the Ely Ranger District
Release Date: Nov 30, 2018
Contact(s): Erica Hupp (775) 355-5311; Naaman Horn (702) 515-5413
Ely Nev., Nov. 30, 2018 - As part of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s hazardous fuels reduction efforts Ely Ranger District fuels personnel will begin pile burning starting in December 2018 and continuing through May 2019, weather and fuel conditions permitting.
Prescribed fire is a proactive tool used to achieve a number of purposes, including the reduction of hazardous fuels (overgrown vegetation). Pile burning helps decrease the threat of high intensity, high-severity wildfires; reduce the risk of insect and disease outbreak; recycle nutrients that increase soil productivity; and improve wildlife habitat. Another benefit resulting from prescribed fire is a reduction in wildfire danger to local communities.
The actual days of ignition for pile burning will depend on several factors including appropriate humidity levels, wind speed and direction, temperature, and fuel moisture. Burns only occur on days when weather conditions exist for smoke dispersal. The public can get prescribed burn updates by visiting the Forest’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/HumboldtToiyabe) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/HumboldtToiyabeNF/) pages.
Fire crews divide large landscape burns into blocks of land over multiple days. This allows them to halt burning activity within those areas if anything is out of the pre-established prescription conditions, such as too much wind. Crews can start again when conditions are more acceptable. Fire managers create a burn plan, which includes smoke management details, fire control measures, acceptable weather parameters, and equipment and personnel needs. The burn plan also describes in detail how the ecosystem will benefit from fire.
Please do not call 911 about burning in the areas referred below. Local fire departments are aware of these burning activities. For information on pile burning activities on the Ely Ranger Districts, please call Fuels Specialist Carol Carlock at 775-289-5128.
Possible Burn Locations Include:
- Grant-Quinn Range: Adaven Area
- Located three hours southwest of Ely, Nevada. Approximately 700 acres of hand piles will be burned along the FS Road 410 (Cherry Creek Road) and adjacent FS Road 411 (Pine Creek Road) just south of the Grant and Quinn Wilderness Areas.
- North Schell Range
- Units are located between 20 and 30 miles north of Ely, Nevada. Approximately 300-400 acres of hand piles will be burned along the northwest side of the Schell Range.