Multiple agencies continue prescribed fire operations
Release Date: Dec 12, 2014
Contact(s): Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, Matt Fogarty (775) 560-1717, California State Parks, Rich Adams (530) 583-2240, Nevada Division of Forestry, Roland Shaw (775) 684-2741
or U.S. Forest Service, Lisa Herron (530) 543-2815
South Lake Tahoe, Calif. – The Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, California State Parks, Nevada Division of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service will continue prescribed fire operations near Sugar Pine Point State Park, Sawmill Pond, Pioneer Trail and Washoan Boulevard, Ski Run Boulevard near Heavenly, Van Sickle Bi-State Park, Luther Pass, Spooner Summit, and Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park in Slaughterhouse Canyon. Operations will last through the next several weeks as conditions allow.
Fall and winter bring cooler temperatures and precipitation, which favor prescribed burning. Each operation follows a prescribed fire burn plan, which considers temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation, and conditions for the dispersal of smoke. This information is used to decide when and where to burn. The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) gives as much advance notice as possible before burning, but some operations may be conducted on short notice.
Smoke from prescribed fire operations is normal and may continue for several days after an ignition depending on the project size. Agencies coordinate with state and local county air pollution control districts and monitors weather conditions closely prior to prescribed fire ignition. They wait for favorable conditions that will carry smoke up and out of the Basin. Crews also conduct test burns before igniting a larger area, to verify how effectively fuels are consumed how smoke will travel.
Before prescribed fire operations are conducted, agencies may post road signs around affected areas and make email or phone notifications. The Forest Service updates the local fire information line at 530-543-2600, #6. To receive prescribed fire notifications, send an email to pa_ltbmu@fs.fed.us. For more information on prescribed fire and smoke management tips, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/RxFireOps.
Project Information:
- Project Name: “Van Sickle”
- Responsible Agency/Contact: Matt Fogarty (775) 560-1717
- Descriptive Location: South of Kingsbury Grade, Van Sickle Bi-State Park. Southwest of Boulder Lodge.
- Type of burn: Hand Piles
- Total Acreage: 180
- Planned Ignition: 12/12/2014 thru 12/31/2014 as conditions permit
- Duration of Ignition and Smoke Production: 7 days. Piles will be allowed to burn out.
- Estimated Direction of Smoke Travel: East, northeast
- Communities or Smoke Sensitive Areas: Smoke may be visible from Stateline, Round Hill, Zephyr Heights and Kingsbury grade
- Project Name: Sugar Pine Point State Park
- Responsible Agency/Contact: California State Parks, Rich Adams (530) 525-1222
- Legal Location: T14N R17E S 20
- Descriptive Location: Sugar Pine Point State Park, south of General Creek
- Type of burn: Hand Piles
- Total Acres: 20 acres
- Planned Ignition: 12/15/2014 and continuing as conditions permit
- Duration of Ignition and Smoke Production: 10 days, intermittent
- Communities or Smoke Sensitive Areas: Highway 89 near General Creek
- Project Name: North Canyon Pile Burn
- Responsible Agency/Contact: Nevada Division of Forestry, Roland Shaw (775) 684-2741
- Legal Location: T15N, R18E, Sec 25,35,36
- Descriptive Location: Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, 1 mile north of Spooner Summit, east of SR28
- Type of burn: Hand Piles
- Total Acreage: 55
- Planned Ignition: 12/15/2014 and continuing as conditions permit
- Duration of Ignition and Smoke Production: 3 days of burn down time
- Estimated Direction of Smoke Travel: Northeast
- Communities or Smoke Sensitive Areas: Smoke may be visible from SR28, US50 in the Spooner summit area, Tahoe Rim Trail north of Spooner Summit, Washoe Valley, Carson City
- Project Name: Slaughterhouse Pile Burn
- Responsible Agency/Contact: Nevada Division of Forestry, Roland Shaw (775) 684-2741
- Legal Location: T15N, R18E, Sec 34
- Descriptive Location: Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, 1.5 miles north of Spooner Summit, west of SR28
- Type of burn: Hand Piles
- Total Acreage: 5
- Planned Ignition: 12/15/2014 and continuing as conditions permit
- Duration of Ignition and Smoke Production: 3 days of burn down time
- Estimated Direction of Smoke Travel: Northeast
- Communities or Smoke Sensitive Areas: Smoke may be visible from SR28, US50 in the Spooner summit area, north of Glenbrook
- Project Name: Heavenly ULM
- Responsible Agency/Contact: U.S. Forest Service, Kyle Jacobson (530) 543-2658
- Legal Location: T12, R18E, Sec 1,2, 34
- Descriptive Location: Ski Run
- Type of Burn: Hand Piles
- Total Acreage: 70.25
- Planned Ignition: Operations began12/8/2014 and continue as conditions permit
- Duration of Ignition and Smoke Production: 10 days of burn down time
- Estimated Direction of Smoke Travel: North/Northeast
- Communities or Smoke Sensitive Areas: Smoke may be visible from South Lake Tahoe and surrounding communities.
- Project Name: Luther
- Responsible Agency/Contact: U.S. Forest Service, Kyle Jacobson (530) 543-2658
- Legal Location: T11N, R18E, Sec 15,16
- Descriptive Location: Luther Pass
- Type of Burn: Hand Piles
- Total Acreage: 200
- Planned Ignition: Operations began12/8/2014 and continue as conditions permit
- Duration of Ignition and Smoke Production: 10 days of burn down time
- Estimated Direction of Smoke Travel: North/Northeast
- Communities or Smoke Sensitive Areas: Smoke may be visible from Meyers and surrounding communities.
- Project Name: Twin Peaks
- Responsible Agency/Contact: U.S. Forest Service, Kyle Jacobson (530) 543-2658
- Legal Location: T11N, R18E, Sec 6,7
- Descriptive Location: Sawmill Pond
- Type of Burn: Hand Piles
- Total Acreage: 90
- Planned Ignition: Operations began 12/8/2014 and continue as conditions permit
- Duration of Ignition and Smoke Production: 10 days of burn down time
- Estimated Direction of Smoke Travel: North/Northeast
- Communities or Smoke Sensitive Areas: Smoke may be visible from Meyers, South Lake Tahoe and surrounding communities.
- Project Name: Spooner
- Responsible Agency/Contact: U.S. Forest Service, Kyle Jacobson (530) 543-2658
- Legal Location: T14N, R18E, Sec 12,13
- Descriptive Location: Spooner
- Type of Burn: Hand Piles
- Total Acreage: 100
- Planned Ignition: Operations began12/8/2014 and continue as conditions permit
- Duration of Ignition and Smoke Production: 10 days of burn down time
- Estimated Direction of Smoke Travel: North/Northeast
- Communities or Smoke Sensitive Areas: Smoke may be visiblefrom Glenbrook and surrounding communities.
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About the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team
The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) consists of representatives of Tahoe Basin fire agencies, Cal Fire, Nevada Division of Forestry and related state agencies, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, the USDA Forest Service, conservation districts from both states, the California Tahoe Conservancy and the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board. Our Mission is to protect lives, property and the environment within the Lake Tahoe Basin from wildfire by implementing prioritized fuels reduction projects and educating the public on becoming a Fire Adapted Community.
For more information, visit www.tahoefft.org